KATHMANDU, JUNE 8

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued an order seeking a written response from the government within 15 days, on its decision to reshuffle the cabinet.

A single bench of Justice Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada has ordered the Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister, among other defendants, to file a report on why the cabinet was reshuffled and new ministers inducted in the caretaker government.

The apex court has also called both petitioners and defendants at the court for a discussion regarding the issuance of the interim order, on June 22.

Senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi, advocate Raj Kumar Suwal among others have filed six writs at the SC seeking the annulment of the cabinet reshuffle by PM Oli on June 4.

Advocate Tripathi argued in his writ that PM Oli is a caretaker prime minister -- as the House of Representatives stands dissolved -- and as such he does not have the executive power to reshuffle or induct new ministers.

Oli had inducted eight ministers and two state ministers from the Mahanta Thakur- Rajendra Mahato Faction of the Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal.