Supreme Court orders to register case against PM Dahal

Published On: March 4, 2023 09:01 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, March 4: The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered to register the writ petition filed against CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The apex court on Friday ordered its administration to file a writ petition against Prime Minister Dahal.

On January 15, 2020, Dahal had expressed that he would take responsibility for only 5,000 killed during the conflict. “I am told that I came after killing 17,000 people. Friends, this is not true. Let me tell you the truth. Yesterday's feudal kings killed 12,000. If you entrust me with the responsibility of 5000 killed, I will own it. But there will be no justice for the 12,000 killed by yesterday's state, and there will be no justice if that is also put on my head," he said in a public event on the occasion of Maghi festival. “I cannot run away from it. But people can’t blame me for what I didn't do.”

Advocates Gyanendra Raj Aran, Kalyan Budhathoki and others had filed a writ in the Supreme Court demanding an order to investigate and take action against Dahal in criminal charges regarding Dahal's statement.

The SC administration had ordered a Darpeeth (decision not to register) stating that the application submitted on the basis of expression of political nature could not be registered. After the petitioners went to the SC against the bench order, the bench of Justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Hari Phuyal ordered the registration of the petition. They plan to file a petition on Sunday.

The then CPN-Maoist, with Dahal as its chairman, waged armed conflict for 10 years in the name of 'People's War'. The rebellion that started on February 13, 1996 officially came to an end after a Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed on November 21, 2006.

The peace agreement was signed by then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on behalf of the government and Chairman Dahal on behalf of CPN-Maoist. During the 10-year conflict, at least 17,000 civilians were killed by the state and the rebel party.