27 August. KATHMANDU: UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been taken by an advocate to the court on the charge of undermining and defaming the judiciary through his recent remarks published in various newspapers.
Advocate Dinesh Tripathi, in his contempt-of-court charge filed at the Supreme Court on Monday, has demanded up to one year jail sentence and up to Rs 10,000 fine against Dahal as per Section 7 of the Supreme Court Act, 1991, for threatening to rebel if the court starts prosecuting Maoist cadres.
Tripathi claimed that Dahal’s warning has challenged the judiciary and undermined its dignity. According to the petition, the August 22 statement, in which Dahal said he would not tolerate if cases were filed against his cadres in any court of law, has not only threatened the rule of law, but also questioned the sanctity of one of the state organs. “The apex court has the right to punish those, who disrespect it and any court under it as per Article 102(3) of the Interim Constitution. The court needs to assert its power to maintain its sanctity,” he stated.
“The court never works out of fear or grants favour to anyone. It operates on the basis of law and evidence,” the petitioner added.
“But the person, who once became prime minister, has threatened the court,” he said, adding that Dahal’s statement has obstructed the justice dispensation process. The advocate said his petition was meant to protect sanctity of the judiciary.
