Kathmandu, January 19:

Pleading at the Patan Appellate Court in connection to a writ petition filed by Rastriya Prajatantra Party led by Pashupati SJB Rana, legal experts today claimed that Home Minister Kamal Thapa had violated election code of conduct.

“It is a violation of code of conduct by Home Minister Thapa because he cannot register a political party at the Election Commission after the expiry of the date to register a political party to participate in the upcoming election,” President of Nepal Bar Association, Shambhu Thapa, said.

He also accused the Home Minister of hijacking the RPP by misusing state power even after the activation of the election code of conduct the EC. “It was against the code of conduct to form a political party after the expiry of the date to register the party in the EC had expired,” Thapa said adding, “The ministers have nakedly violated the rule of law.”

The hearing on whether to issue a stay order as sought by the Rana-led RPP continued today.

Advocates Agni Kharel and Bachu Singh Khadka also pleaded on behalf of the writ petitioners.

They claimed that the court should issue a stay order to the EC or the writ petitioners would face irreparable loss.

The hearing is scheduled to continued tomorrow.