Veep's oath row still draws flak

KATHMANDU: Attorney General Prof Bharat Bahadur Karki today advised Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal that Vice President elect Paramananda Jha could take fresh oath in a language, which is alternative to the official language.

"Prof Karki told PM that the VP can enjoy the facility given by the amendment of the Interim Constitution to seek alternative of Nepali language in taking oath," a source close to the AG told The Himalayan Times. "Now we have to respect the rights of the President and the Vice President as the Constitution has been amended," the source added.

AG Karki said, "I have suggested him to respect the constitutional provisions," he said. Karki had visited the PM at the latter's office at Singh Durbar.

Prior to meeting the PM, Karki had met former Attorney Generals and former presidents of Nepal Bar Association

Former AG had advised the AG that Jha could not enjoy the amended provision in retrospect. However, some legal experts advised the AG that as the Constitution had been amended to respect the verdict of the Supreme Court there was no need to stick with the Nepali language.