SC notice to Govt on army chief sacking

KATHMANDU: Nepal's Supreme Court has issued a show-cause notice to the government on its decision to sack Army Chief Rukmangad Katawal for allegedly defying its orders.

A single bench of Justice Bharatraj Upreti issued the order on a writ filed by an advocate demanding to scrap the government's decision to sack Katawal and asked it to reply within 15 days.

Advocate Damodar Poudel filed the writ at the SC claiming the decision of Council of Ministers (on May 4) to relieve Katawal from the Army Chief position and appointing Lt. General Kul Bahadur Khadka as the Acting Army Chief was unconstitutional.

But, President Ram Baran Yadav had refused to accept the Cabinet's decision and asked Gen Katawal to remain as the Army Chief, which led to the resignation of Prime Minister Prachanda.

The show cause notice comes at a time when the Maoists were blocking the Parliament proceedings, asking Yadav to withdraw his decision to reinstate army chief Katawal.