Kathmandu — A contempt of court petition has been filed at the Supreme Court of Nepal against CPN-UML Secretary Mahesh Basnet over statements he allegedly made about the judiciary.
The petition was filed on Wednesday by advocate Laban Neupane, who claimed that Basnet made remarks that undermine the dignity and authority of the court.
According to the petition, Basnet publicly expressed views regarding the House of Representatives dissolution and restoration case, which is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court. The petitioner argued that commenting on a matter under judicial review amounts to interference in the court’s proceedings.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the first hearing of the case for Chaitra 1.
Allegations Over Statements About Judges
The petition states that Basnet made controversial remarks directed at the judiciary, including comments suggesting that the Chief Justice and other judges were avoiding responsibilities or delaying judicial procedures due to pressure, fear, or external influence.
The petitioner claims such statements could be interpreted as attempts to intimidate the court and damage public trust in the judicial process.
Claims of Disrespect Toward the Judiciary
The petition also alleges that Basnet publicly portrayed Nepal’s judiciary in a negative manner. One of the statements cited in the filing quotes Basnet as saying that the country was facing a form of external attack and that the nation’s judicial system had effectively “burned.”
According to the petitioner, such remarks undermine the reputation of the Supreme Court and the broader judicial system. The court will now examine whether the statements cited in the petition constitute contempt of court under Nepal’s legal provisions.
