Kathmandu, September 11

The Supreme Court today issued a ruling in favour of Sanjeev Thapa, chair of Nepal Red Cross Society, by nullifying the decision of District Administration Office, Kathmandu.

DAO Kathmandu had decided to dissolve Thapa-led central working committee of the NRCS, stayed its general assembly and had prevented the central working committee from holding new elections.

The decision was passed by a division bench of justices Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Dambar Bahadur Shahi. The bench observed that the power to dissolve the central working committee of the Nepal Red Cross Society rested with the government and not with the DAO, Kathmandu, as per the law.

The apex court said DAO’s decision to dissolve the central working committee of Nepal Red Cross Society and the decision to stay general assembly were unlawful.

The court said DAO, Kathmandu took decision to dissolve the central working committee of NRCS without giving the office bearers the right to be heard and thus it was against the principle of natural justice.

District Administration Office, Kathmandu had decided to halt the society’s general assembly, saying corruption allegation against the office bearers was being probed following which Thapa moved the apex court. The court also ordered the government body to allow Thapa-led committee to work until the next central working committee was elected.

DAO, Kathmandu had dissolved Thapa-led committee on May 20 and had formed a 17 member ad hoc committee which was led by senior official of NRCS Bishwa Keshar Maskey. Thapa had filed the case at the apex court on June 3.