KATHMANDU, APRIL 10

The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interim order to the Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, instructing them not to make any decisions with long-term impact.

A single bench of Justice Binod Sharma issued this order on Wednesday, effective until the final decision on a complaint is reached.

"Khagaraj Adhikari has been appointed as the Chief Minister based on the claim he presented, counting his vote as well, since he can only give a decisive vote under the condition of Article 186 of the Nepal Constitution."

The SC has also set a hearing date for April 22 to resolve the dispute at the earliest. Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader and outgoing Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Pandey, filed a writ petition on Tuesday, noting that presenting a claim of majority by counting the Speaker's vote as well was unconstitutional.

Previously, the apex court, in a writ petition by CPN (UML) against NC in Koshi Province on a similar matter, had issued an order not to count the Speaker's vote.