Kathmandu, March 30:

Legal experts today condemned Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s recent remarks on the Supreme Court’s stay order against the government’s decision not to extend the tenure of eight brigadier generals of Nepali Army.

Speaking at an interaction organised by Supreme Court Bar Association, former NBA president Shambhu Thapa said, “The Maoists do not have the right to dishonour the supremacy of the judiciary.” Thapa said it was against democratic norms and values for the Maoist Minister to hurl accusations against the Supreme Court.

Bishwo Kanta Mainali, NBA president, accused the government of interfering with the independence of the judiciary. Mainali said it was irresponsible on the part of Maoist ministers to bring the SC decision to controversy. He also demanded that the state guarantee judicial autonomy in the new constitution.

Raman Kumar Shrestha, NBA general secretary, said no one had the right to go against the mandate of constitution. “No one has the authority to criticise the court’s decision publicly,” said Tika Ram Bhattarai, chairman of Constitutional Lawyers Forum.