In a jolt to Nepal's Maoist-led government, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed its move to seek another extension to the Constituent Assembly's term, effectively ruling that the Constitution be completed within the 27 May deadline, failing which fresh elections be held.
The Supreme Court's stay order came even as the Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Sitaula in the coalition walked out of the government, in protest against the cabinet's controversial move that violated an earlier apex court order.
The Supreme Court issued an interim order against the Baburam Bhattarai government's move to seek a further three months time to complete the writing of the Constitution, court officials said.
The order was issued by a single bench of Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi in response to a writ filed by Attorney Bal Krishna Neupane and Bharat Mani Jangam on Wednesday.
In the writ, the petitioner had argued that the Cabinet's Tuesday decision failed to abide by an earlier verdict of the apex court that had ruled against any further extension to the 27 May deadline.
The cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Bhattarai on Tuesday had decided to seek an extension of the CA tenure by another three months after it expires on Sunday as it was unlikely that the Constitution would be promulgated within that deadline.
Given the fact that the talks between political parties are mired in serious differences over constitutional issues, the court's stay on a further extension might force a fresh election of the Constituent Assembly.
The CA was elected in April 2008 for an interim period of two years to draft the Constitution. However, its term has been extended four times in the last two years as the political parties have failed to resolve their issues.
In November last year when the government sought a fourth extension, the apex court had issued a directive that gave the the CA a 'last chance' to extend the assembly's term till 27 May. The main opposition parties have been opposing the government's move.
The Supreme Court's stay order came even as the Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Sitaula in the coalition walked out of the government, in protest against the cabinet's controversial move that violated an earlier apex court order.
The Supreme Court issued an interim order against the Baburam Bhattarai government's move to seek a further three months time to complete the writing of the Constitution, court officials said.
The order was issued by a single bench of Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi in response to a writ filed by Attorney Bal Krishna Neupane and Bharat Mani Jangam on Wednesday.
In the writ, the petitioner had argued that the Cabinet's Tuesday decision failed to abide by an earlier verdict of the apex court that had ruled against any further extension to the 27 May deadline.
The cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Bhattarai on Tuesday had decided to seek an extension of the CA tenure by another three months after it expires on Sunday as it was unlikely that the Constitution would be promulgated within that deadline.
Given the fact that the talks between political parties are mired in serious differences over constitutional issues, the court's stay on a further extension might force a fresh election of the Constituent Assembly.
The CA was elected in April 2008 for an interim period of two years to draft the Constitution. However, its term has been extended four times in the last two years as the political parties have failed to resolve their issues.
In November last year when the government sought a fourth extension, the apex court had issued a directive that gave the the CA a 'last chance' to extend the assembly's term till 27 May. The main opposition parties have been opposing the government's move.