Kathmandu, May 16:

The Supreme Court today issued show cause notices to the government authorities — the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet and the Home Ministry and Kathmandu District Administration Office — demanding reasons on why it detained former ministers of the royal cabinet Ramesh Nath Pandey and Shrish Sumsher Rana.

A single bench of Justice Tahir Ali Ansari issued the notices responding to habeas corpus petitions seeking the release of the two ex-ministers. The bench also told the authorities to attend hearing on Thursday. The government detained them on the recommendation of the Rayamajhi Commission. The government had arrested the ex- ministers for allegedly holding secret meetings to thwart the Jana Andolan-II.