Government cleared to implement decision on trade union dissolution after Supreme Court ruling

Kathmandu: The Supreme Court has declined to continue an interim order issued in a writ petition filed against the government’s decision to dissolve trade unions.

The hearing, which began on Jestha 20 in the Constitutional Bench comprising Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma, Justices Dr. Nahakul Subedi, Binod Sharma, Abdul Aziz Musalman and Mahesh Sharma Poudel, concluded today with the court refusing to extend the earlier interim order. With this decision, the government has been cleared to proceed with the implementation of its decision to dissolve trade unions.

Earlier, on Baisakh 28, a divided order had been issued by a Constitutional Bench consisting of then Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla, Justices Kumar Regmi, Hari Prasad Phuyal, Binod Sharma and Sharanga Subedi. At that time, Acting Chief Justice Malla and Justices Regmi and Phuyal had issued a short-term interim order preventing implementation of the government’s decision, while Justices Binod Sharma and Sharanga Subedi had expressed a differing view, stating that there was no basis for such an order as it would not cause irreparable damage.

The court had earlier summoned both parties to present their arguments and directed them to submit written responses through the Office of the Attorney General. On behalf of the Central Working Committee of the Nepal Civil Servants Organization, authorized chair Bhawani Dahal had also sought an order to halt the implementation of the decision to dissolve trade unions, naming the President’s Office as the defendant.