SC issues show cause notice to IEC chair Regmi for holding dual posts

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the chairperson of the Interim Election Council to explain as why he was holding the dual positions of the executive head and head of the judiciary.

Acting upon a writ petition filed by Bharat Jungum demanding resignation of Regmi from the post of Cief Justice, a single bench of Justice Girish Chandra Lal has asked Regmi, the sole defendant in the petition, to furnish reply within 15 days of receiving the court order.

Jungum had moved the court on May 27 arguing that holding of dual position was against the principle of separation of powers. The court administration had a day earlier asked Jungum to clarify the legal basis for seeking the resignation.

Jungum argued that the same person heading both the judiciary and executive was against democracy and principle of separation of power and check and balance.

An apex court ruling on March 18 by Justice Lal himself has ordered that Regmi be known only as chairman of the interim election government and not chief justice so long as he remains at the helm of the government.