The Supreme Court has summoned both parties for a discussion in a contempt of court case filed against the prime minister and the finance minister.
Hearing on the case took place on Tuesday in the bench of Justices Til Prasad Shrestha and Nityananda Pandeya.
Court spokesperson Achyut Kuinkel informed that the bench has called both parties for a discussion on June 22. It has also ordered the defendants to submit written responses.
Senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi had filed the petition on June 8, alleging that PM KP Sharma Oli and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel had committed contempt of court through the budget announced on May 29.
Tripathi had initially named PM Oli and Finance Minister Paudel in the petition. But after holding discussions, the petition was filed without naming them.
On May 29, 2021, Finance Minister Paudel had presented the income and expenditure details for the fiscal year 2021-22 through an ordinance. Point no. 199 of the statement said: “Trade deficit will be reduced by exporting mine-based stones, gravel and sand based on environmental impact assessment. For the transportation of mine-based construction materials intended for export, I have arranged to exempt import duty for the construction of ropeway from the manufacturing unit to the point of export.”
Advocate Tripathi filed a writ petition to halt the implementation of point no. 199 of that budget. On April 20, 2022, the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court issued a mandamus order to halt the export of mineral products.
However, Advocate Tripathi claims that point no. 8 of the budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, presented on May 29, violates the Constitutional Bench’s order.
