KATHMANDU: On the ongoing dispute of the originality of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP), the Supreme Court today sought a fresh decision from the Election Commission (EC) which had once settled the dispute.

Revoking the one-year-old EC decision that had recognised Shyam Sundar Gupta-led NSP as the genuine one, the apex court directed the EC to take a fresh decision by further examining evidences.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Anup Raj Sharma and Justice Abadhesh Kumar Yadav annulled the earlier decision of the EC and directed the EC to revisit the dispute.

Stating that Gupta had produced 11 members of the party's central working committee that proved majority, the EC had recognised the NSP led by Gupta as the genuine party on March 13 last year.

The EC had taken the decision as per Section 26(6) of the Election Act.

Challenging the decision of the EC, a faction led by Khushi Lal Mandal and another faction led by Sarita Giri had moved the apex court.

Responding to the writ petition filed by Giri, the apex court had issued a stay order directing the government authorities and the EC not to implement the earlier decision of the EC until the SC gives a final verdict.

In her petition, Giri has claimed that since her Constituent Assembly me membership was at risk due to the dispute, SC's stay order against the EC's decision was sought.

Advocate Devendra Nepali, who had pleaded on behalf of Mandal, however, said that the apex court verdict favoured his demand as he had sought to revoke the EC's earlier decision.