KATHMANDU, Sept 7: In a significant development, the Supreme Court (SC) has invalidated the vote of confidence received by Chief Minister Uddhav Thapa of Koshi Province, leading to his immediate removal from office.
This decision came about through a mandamus order issued by a joint bench consisting of Justices Sapna Malla Pradhan, Kumar Chudal, and Nahkul Subedi on Thursday.
CM Thapa receives vote of confidence in Koshi Province
In accordance with Article 168(3) of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015, the apex court has directed the prompt appointment of the leader of the largest party in the Provincial Assembly as the new Chief Minister within the next 48 hours.
With this, UML Parliamentary Party leader Hikmat Karki, who was earlier ousted as Chief Minister following his failure to secure vote of confidence, will now be appointed as Chief Minister of Koshi Province again.
The legal dispute emerged following Chief Minister Uddhav Thapa's confidence vote on August 21. The United Marxist-Leninist (UML) party took the matter to the Supreme Court after Israel Mansuri, a senior member of parliament, also cast a vote of confidence in favor of Chief Minister Thapa.
