Wednesday, May 17, 2006


SC issued show cause notices to Govt

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued show cause notices to the government authorities the Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet and the Home Ministry and Kathmandu District Administration Office demanding reasons on why it detained former ministers of the royal cabinet Ramesh Nath Pandey and Shrish Sumsher Rana.

A single bench of Justice Tahir Ali Ansari issued the notices responding to habeas corpus petitions seeking the release of the two ex-ministers of the royal cabinet. The bench also told the authorities to attend hearing on Thursday about their detention.

The government detained them on the recommendation of the recently formed Rayamajhi Commission. The government had arrested the royalist ministers for allegedly holding secret meetings to thwart the Jana Andolan-II and suppress people.

However, the ex-ministers had moved the Supreme Court saying the government has detained them illegally. "The government has no authority to detain anyone merely by citing the sub-clause 3(1) of clause of the Public Security Act 2049 BS and accuse them of holding secret meetings," Tika Ram Adhikary said while filing the petition seeking the ex-ministers' release.

He also added that the government has violated the fundamental rights under Article 12 and 14 of the Constitution on the right to assembly and fair trail on any charge while detaining the former royalist ministers.

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