Nepal Supreme Court Orders Review of Nepali Congress Leadership

The Supreme Court of Nepal has ordered a fresh hearing to resolve a leadership dispute within the Nepali Congress party. A three-justice bench, led by Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma, granted a review petition filed by former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and Purna Bahadur Khadka.

The court will examine whether a previous April 17 verdict was legally correct. That earlier ruling had upheld a decision by the Election Commission of Nepal to recognize a Special General Convention, convened by Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma, as legitimate. This convention had elected a new central working committee, which the Deuba faction challenges on the grounds that they were denied an adequate opportunity to present their case, violating the principle of natural justice.

While the court will reassess the legal procedures used to recognize the Thapa-led committee, the order does not immediately invalidate the current party leadership or the Election Commission's prior decisions. The review occurs as the Deuba faction begins the process of forming a separate party. Sher Bahadur Deuba, who has been receiving medical treatment in Singapore, is expected to return to Nepal shortly for the proceedings.