CONTEMPT OF COURT
KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 28
Co-chair of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) today appeared before the Supreme Court and submitted his written response in a contempt of court case filed against him for his remarks related to the House of Representatives dissolution case.
Dahal said in his written response that his remarks were a reflection of people's anger against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's move dissolving the HoR and the Supreme Court was supposed to interpret the constitution, not protests or remarks expressed during protests.
"Our protests and slogans cannot influence our independent and competent courts. The government wrongly perceives that our courts are weak and tell people to file such cases. The court cannot deviate from its path. Our party is clear about it.
We have faith in the judiciary," Dahal said in his submission.
He said his remarks were not aimed at influencing the court.
Dahal said his party's lawmakers had challenged the HoR dissolution in the SC, as they believed in the independence of the judiciary. "It is natural for every citizen to expect victory in a court case. It is the right of the party to a case to express what s/ he feels about the case," Dahal said in his reply.
He said his remarks were against the government's wrong move dissolving the HoR and those remarks could not be termed contemptuous. Dahal said the government made appointments to constitutional bodies on the day it dissolved the HoR triggering protests across the country.
Advocate Samir Hayu had filed the case against Dahal on February 1, citing Dahal's January 22 speech at Maitighar Mandala while addressing a mass demonstration. Hayu alleged that Dahal's speech was intended to threaten and intimidate the court.
In his speech, Dahal had said, "No one wants the country to get into a war situation, no one wants violence and terrorism in the country. Nor do respected SC and respected justices want that to happen. But, if Oli's authoritative move is not rectified by the court, we will bring hundreds of thousands of people on the streets. They will rectify the wrong decision."
Hayu said the remarks were contemptuous.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 1, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
