KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the government not to give amnesty of UCPN-Maoist leader Bal Krishna Dhungel.

The Baburam Bhattarai-led government had decided to grant amnesty of Dhungel, who was convicted of the murder of Ujjan Shrestha of Okhaldhunga district.

Against the decision, Shrestha's sister Sabitri had filed a petition at the apex court demanding action against Dhungel as ordered by the Okhaldhunga District Court earlier.

According to the Supreme Court assistant spokesperson Bishwaraj Paudel, a constitutional bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha and Justices Sushila Karki, Baidya Nath Upadhyaya, Gopal Parajuli and Om Prakash Mishra pronounced the verdict on Sabitri's side today.

While the Appellate Court had rejected the District Court order for life imprisonment and confiscation of  all properties, the Supreme Court had upheld the District Court verdict.

Despite the Supreme Court order, the Bhattarai-led government had decided to pardon Dhungel, claiming the case was one from the conflict era and the murder took place during the armed conflict.

Dhungel was a member of the first Constituent Assembly representing Okhaldhunga Constituency 2.