KATHMANDU, April 2: The Supreme Court has ordered the state authorities to furnish documents related to the oath of office and secrecy of President Bidya Devi Bhandari administered by then Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli and the latter's date of birth to the apex court.

Responding to a writ petition challenging the legality of the oath of President Bhandari, a single bench of Justice Kedar Prasad Chalise issued the order to submit the documents on Friday.

The SC has ordered the Judicial Council to present the copy of the documents related to Parajuli's date of birth and retirement in addition to a copy of the recommendation of Parajuli's appointment for the post and his resignation as well.

Parajuli had administered oath of office and secrecy to President Bhandari on March 14. However, the Judicial Council had sent a letter to Parajuli on the same day informing him that he was relieved from the position due to age limit. Judicial Council Secretary Nirpa Dhowj Niroula had sent a letter to Parajuli stating that he had retired seven months ago due the constitutional age bar.

Challenging the legality of the oath of office administered to President Bhandari by the then CJ Parajluli, advocates Hemmani Subedi and Narayan Kharel filed a writ petition on March 28 seeking the apex court's intervention to prevent Bhandari from working as the head of state.

Claiming that the oath administered by the relieved CJ to the president was unconstitutional, the petitioners had sought a stay order from the apex court to bar her from performing her duties until she takes fresh oath from the legitimate chief justice. 

Parajuli resigned from the post after administering the oath to President Bhandari.

 
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