Kathmandu, September 20

The Supreme Court on Thursday said President Bidhya Devi Bhandari need not take the oath of office and secrecy afresh.

Advocates Narayan Kharel and Hom Mani Subedi had field a petition, stating that since Bhandari had taken the oath from the then CJ Gopal Parajuli, who had actually retired, she should take the oath afresh.

A single bench of justice Sapana Pradhan Malla decided that since both the president and then CJ had not been informed about the latter’s retirement at the time of administering the oath, the oath taking by Bhandari was valid.

The Judicial Council had sent a removal letter to Parajuli the same day, citing inconsistencies in the birth dates in his citizenship and academic certificates.