SC refused to issue interim order on writ against PM; issues show cause notice

The Supreme Court on Friday, in two writ petitions filed against Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, issued a show cause order in the name of the defendants including Prime Minister, asking him to explain why he should not be held responsible for 5,000 murders during the Nepal civil war.

During a preliminary hearing, a single bench of Justice Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada ordered the defendants including the prime minister to submit a written response within 15 days on what actually had happened and why not to issue an order as demanded by the petitioners.

The apex court said issuing an interim order was not necessary, citing there are not enough reasons to pass the order in the current context. The petitioners had demanded that the court issue an interim order to arrest Dahal.

The Supreme Court has ordered PM Dahal to submit a written reply within 15 days.

Two separate petitions were registered against Dahal on behalf of 24 conflict victims, demanding the apex court order to arrest and hand needful punishment to Dahal for insurgency-era crimes.

In a public speech on January 15, 2020, Prachanda had said he would take the responsibility of killing 5,000 people out of the total 17,000 deaths that occurred during the decade-long insurgency in Nepal when he was the supreme commander and chairman of the Maoist party.

It is estimated that around 17,000 people lost their lives during the decade-long insurgency. Prachanda waged the armed conflict for a decade in the name of ‘People’s War’.

The rebellion that started on February 13, 1996 officially came to an end after a Comprehensive Peace Agreement was reached with then government on November 21, 2006.