Supreme Court Defers Decision on Writ Against DPM Rabi Lamichhane Again

The Supreme Court’s hearing on Tuesday regarding the writ petition against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane did not culminate in a final order as expected.

Advocate Anupam Bhattarai’s case, which seeks Lamichhane’s suspension to ensure an impartial investigation into a cooperative fraud case, faced yet another postponement after Tuesday’s hearing.

Previously scheduled for a decision following today’s proceedings, the case was deferred once more, continuing a pattern of delays. A similar deferral occurred on June 21 during hearings before Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Sharanga Subedi.

Bhattarai’s writ underscores the necessity of Lamichhane’s suspension to guarantee an unbiased probe into the allegations. The court, led by Justices Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma and Til Prasad Shrestha on June 28, directed the acquisition of documents linked to the cooperative fraud case involving Lamichhane. The case (080-c1-0987) concerns Jitendra Babu Rai (GB Rai) and others, highlighting judicial scrutiny of the matter.

The political landscape recently shifted with the dissolution of the ruling coalition and an apparent increase in cooperation between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML. This development raises questions about the potential impact on Lamichhane’s legal situation.

Despite these uncertainties, the Supreme Court proceeded with Tuesday’s hearing, but without reaching a final decision, opting instead to defer proceedings once more.