Oli questions SC verdict, says it will have long-term impact

KATHMANDU : In what sounds like a counter to the Supreme Court (SC)’s verdict to reinstate House and appoint Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba as the prime minister,  outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli  said that Monday’s verdict of the SC’s constitutional bench will have a long-term and negative impact on the multiparty parliamentary system.

Stating that they [he and his party] will implement the order of the court, he insisted that it is sure to demolish the party system and multi-party democracy.

“The terms and language used in the verdict has alarmed all those who believe in a multi-party system.

“The order has violated the system of check and balance [of power between state organs].

“This is just a temporary joy. It’ll have a long-term impact.”

Referring to an SC verdict in 2052 BS, Oli said that the country had been drawn into instability and uncertainty due to the court’s verdict back then. It is to be noted that the Supreme Court had overturned the then Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari’s decision to dissolve the House of Representatives (HoR) in 2052 BS.

According to him, SC’s ‘misinterpretation’ of Article 76 (5) is sure to lead the country toward a partyless system.

“It is sure to ignite malpractices and deteriorate discipline.

“The court has crossed its jurisdiction and decided over political matters.”

On the occasion, he also blamed the court for ‘excessive judicial activism’.

“It may lead to the deterioration of the reliability of the court.

“I have not been ousted because of the people’s mandate but because of the court’s mandamus.

He also claimed that a series of conspiracies were hatched to oust him from the government.

On a different note, he claimed that he delivered ‘outstanding and overall development’ during his tenure. Talking about the country’s fight against COVID-19, Oli said that the country is in the final stage of controlling the coronavirus. “We will be able to vaccinate a majority of the population against the coronavirus by 2021,” he said, adding that the new government will have an advantage of taking credit for vaccinating the people. On the occasion, he also revealed that Nepal is in the process to procure six million Pfizer vaccines which can be administered to children.