SC quashes govt’s decision to withdraw criminal cases against 227 individuals

Kathmandu January 15- The Supreme Court quashed the Baburam Bhattarai-led government’s decision to withdraw criminal cases against 227 individuals on Thursday.

Constitutional bench of Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha, Justices Sushila Karki, Baidhyanath Upadhyay, Gopal Parajuli and Om Prakash Mishra delivered the verdict.

Advocate Madhav Basnet had filed a petition against Bhattarai government’s decision to withdraw cases against 227 individuals.

Sarita Moktan, Bechani Devi, Rupiya Devi and Bishweshwar Mandal had also separately filed petitions demanding repeal of the government’s decision to withdraw cases against some individuals.

All these cases were filed four years ago.

According to spokesperson for the Supreme Court Nahakul Subedi, the court observed that the government’s decision to withdraw criminal cases against those individuals was against the constitution, existing laws and judicial precedents set by the Supreme Court.

The court quashed the government’s decision to withdraw criminal cases against those individuals, observing that the government’s decision was arbitrary, discriminatory and politically motivated.

The court also observed that the government’s decision violated government’s own guidelines about withdrawing cases in which the government is plaintiff.