SC Orders Registration of Writ Petition Against Deputy PM Lamichhane and Attorney General

The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an order to register a writ petition filed against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane and Attorney General Dr. Dinmani Pokharel. This decision came from a single bench led by Judge Tek Prasad Dungana on Wednesday.

The petition, originally filed by advocate Anupam Bhattarai, had initially faced denial from the apex court administration on Tuesday. However, following the recent court order, the petition is now set to be officially registered.

At the heart of the matter is a letter issued by the Attorney General to Home Minister Lamichhane, the legality of which has been questioned by the petitioner. The letter, which was made public by Home Minister Lamichhane, served to refute any allegations or investigations against him regarding a cooperative fraud case.

Advocate Bhattarai’s petition seeks the annulment of this letter and calls for a prohibition on the Office of the Attorney General from issuing such communications in the future.

The controversy stems from an investigation by the District Police Office of Rupandehi, which found that a substantial business loan of Rs 20 million was disbursed from Supreme Cooperatives to Home Minister Lamichhane. The funds in question were purportedly utilized for Gorkha Media Network.

Despite the findings of the police report, the District Attorney’s decision to file the case without including charges against Home Minister Lamichhane has raised eyebrows, effectively shielding him from prosecution.

As this legal saga unfolds, it underscores the delicate balance between executive authority and judicial oversight, bringing to light questions of accountability and transparency at the highest levels of government.