Show cause notices issued

Supreme Court has issued show cause notices to government authorities on the detention of former Home Minister Kamal Thapa and former Local Development Minister Tanka Dhakal.

The apex court ordered the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Kathmandu District Administration Office, the Police Paharagan and the Police Academy to furnish reasons for putting the duo in preventive detention within three days.Following today’s hearing, a single bench of justice Tahir Ali Ansari issued the notices to the authorities in response to separate habeas corpus petitions filed by advocate Namaraj Karki.
The bench also sought explanations from Thapa and Dhakal whether they have been allowed to meet their relatives, as the petitioner claimed that the authorities have not been providing facilities to the detained former ministers.

The former ministers have been in 90-day preventive detention since May 12. The state has accused them of posing a threat to people’s sovereignty and the rights achieved through the people’s movement.