KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers seeking an explanation on the recent expansion of the cabinet.

The apex court has asked the government to furnish its reasons for inducting new Ministers to the cabinet even after the dissolution of House of Representatives.

Advocates Dinesh Tripathi apd Lokendra Oli had filed separate writ petitions claiming that the government which had gained the status of a caretaker government on dissolution of House could not expand the cabinet. "It is against the constitution for a caretaker Government to expand the cabinet," the petitioners had argued.

A single bench of Justice Anil Kumar Sinha on Monday had issued the order and scheduled the next hearing on January 12.

On December 25, five days after recommending dissolution of House of Representatives, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had inducted new members into his cabinet.