Kathmandu, September 29:

The Supreme Court today issued show cause notices to the government authorities demanding clarifications on several provisions of the Army Act, 2007.

Responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the Army Act provisions, a single bench of Justice Anup Raj Sharma issued the order to the authorities — the PMO, the Legislature-Parliament, the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of the Army Staffs on why the provisions were inserted in the Act threatening the rule of law and independence of the judiciary. The apex court has given 15 days to the authorities to furnish the details.

Advocates Hari Phuyal, Satish Krisha Kharel, Prem Chandra Rai and Bhuwan Niroula pleaded on behalf of the petitioners demanding the apex court intervention in the issue.

Stating that the provisions of the Act violated the concept of rule of law and independence of the judiciary, advocates Bhuwan Prasad Niroula, Prem Chandra Rai and Bhakti Shah had filed the petition in the SC.