KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought explanation from the council of ministers on why it had sacked Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal and appointed Kul Bahadur Khadka in his stead.

A single bench of Justice Bharat Raj Upreti has demanded that the Prime Minister's Office, the council of ministers and Kul Bahadur Khadka furnish their explanation within 15 days.

Advocates Prakash Raut, Kumar Regmi and Damador Poudel had filed a writ petition yesterday demanding the Supreme Court's intervention in the decision of the council of ministers to sack Chief of Army Staff (CoAS)Rookmangud Katawal and appoint Kul Bahadur Khadka in his stead.

The cabinet had taken the decision to sack CoAS Rookmangud Katawal on May 3.

The petitioners argued that the decision of the cabinet had already been overruled by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.

They sought the Supreme Court's order to nullify the cabinet decision formally.