Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 27:

Ishwor Pokhrel arrested again after SC frees him.

The Supreme Court today issued a special stricture to the government, ordering it to follow court orders. A division bench of Justices Chandra Prasad Parajuli and Badri Kumar Basnet issued the stricture, responding to a habeas corpus petition seeking the apex court’s order to release former Minister Jaya Prakash Gupta. Gupta was subsequently released in the presence of SC Registrar Dr Ram Krishna Timalsena. “Follow court orders as per Articles 95 and 96(1) of the 1990 Constitution in a respective manner,” the bench ordered. The bench, following today’s final hearing, told the Ministry of Home, the police headquarters, Kathmandu District Administration Office and Kathmandu District Police Office, Hanumandhoka, to release Gupta. “It shall be the duty of His Majesty’s Government and the offices and officials subordinate to HMG’s to act in aid of the Supreme Court and other courts in carrying out the functions of dispensing justice,” Article 95 reads. Article 96 (1) says that all shall abide by the orders and decisions made in the course of hearing of a suit by courts.

After being released, Gupta said there was no rule of law in the country and that even the government was defying the apex court’s orders. “I will involve myself in every movement that aims to restore democracy,” he added. He accused the government of deepening bias against him. “I am being targeted by the government since the last two-and-a-half year,” Gupta said, adding, “In the beginning, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority detained me on corruption charges and and now it is currently detained me defying the apex court order,” he added. The Supreme Court also issued an order to the government authorities to release former Minister and standing committee member of the CPN-UML, Ishwor Pokhrel.

Pokhrel, who had been in the Saptari district prison since February 1, was released today following the SC order, RSS reported. A report from Rajbiraj said Pokharel was re-arrested immediately after his release following the SC’s order. After his release, Pokhrel talked to the newsmen and party cadres for about 15 minutes and was detained again when he arrived at the regional police unit office to collect his belongings. Meanwhile, 20 demonstrators in Baglung were arrested today by the local administration, RSS quoted the Home Ministry as saying. The arrested persons are being interrogated, it said.