Supreme Court issues interim order not to investigate anyone’s assets
KATHMANDU:- Nepal’s Supreme Court has issued an interim order restraining the Asset Investigation Commission from investigating anyone’s assets.
A single bench led by Justice Nripadhwaj Niraula issued the interim order, directing the Commission not to seek asset details from anyone or proceed with any investigation until the writ petition is finally resolved by a full bench, noting that the Commission had published a notice contrary to the Supreme Court’s earlier orders.
The court issued the order following hearings on separate writ petitions filed by the Former Judges Forum Nepal and Advocate M.R. Upadhyay. According to Supreme Court spokesperson Arjun Prasad Koirala, the order directs the commission not to proceed with its work immediately, although the written text of the order is yet to be released.
Earlier, on Asar 26, a joint bench comprising Justices Tek Prasad Dhungana and Shrikanta Paudel issued an interim order directing that, pending a final resolution by a full bench regarding the writ petition, no one should be compelled to submit asset details; the process of investigating submitted asset details should be kept in *status quo*; and no recommendations for any form of legal action should be made against anyone.
Following the Commission’s publication of a notice on Asar 29, (July 13) that was in direct contravention of the court’s order, a contempt of court petition has been filed at the Supreme Court against Commission Chairperson Rajendra Kumar Bhandari, members Purushottam Parajuli, Chandi Raj Dhakal, Ganesh KC, and Prakash Lamsal, as well as the Commission itself. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Asar 32, (July 16).
