Kathmandu. A writ petition filed in the Supreme Court against Gunakar Bhatta’s eligibility to be appointed as governor has been kept in abeyance on Tuesday.
Advocates Pratibha Upreti and Bishal Thapa had filed a writ petition with the Supreme Court on Friday alleging that Bhatta was not qualified for the post of governor. The writ petition was placed before a joint bench of Justices Mahesh Sharma Poudel and Bal Krishna Dhakal today. However, even today, it has not been allowed to be seen.
A joint bench of Mahesh Sharma Poudel and Nripdhwaj Niraula filed the writ petition on Monday. But even yesterday, it was not allowed to be seen. A division bench of Justices Hari Prasad Phuyal and Nityananda Pandey on Sunday adjourned the hearing of the writ petition.
Earlier, advocate Thapa had filed a writ petition against the removal of the criteria related to the age limit in the appointment of the governor. He has filed a supplementary petition to be included in the same writ.
A division bench of Justice Nityananda Pandey had ordered the government not to immediately implement the amendment to remove the age limit of 65 years. Both sides have been summoned on Sunday to discuss the writ. The supplementary petition will also be heard on the same day.
On March 27, the Ministry of Finance had amended the Criteria related to the appointment and nomination of office-bearers and members of the public bodies affiliated to the Ministry of Finance, 2073 BS, removing the age limit for the appointment of governors. Earlier, there was a provision that the minimum age of the concerned officials, including the governor, should be 35 years and not more than 65 years.
