The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to the Nepali Congress and its President Sher Bahadur Deuba in a contempt of court petition.

Hearing on the writ petition filed by Advocate Hari Mainali, a single bench of Justice Ishwori Prasad Khatiwada ordered the defendants to furnish written clarification within 10 days.

Mainali on Sunday moved the court citing the recent decision of the NC Central Working Committee that criticised the SC verdict on the appointment of Nepal Police inspector general.

The CWC meeting last week concluded that the apex court had encroached upon the jurisdiction of the government in the IGP appointment case claiming that the verdict violated the principle of separation of powers.

The apex court had quashed the government’s decision to appoint DIG Jaya Bahadur Chand as the chief of Nepal Police and directed the government to follow the merit basis for a new appointment.

Advocate Mainali had argued that the NC’s decision is contemptuous of the court’s verdict. Some of the comments and objections of the party are against the provisions of the constitution, constitutional supremacy, rule of law and theory of separation of powers, Mainali said in his appeal.

He argued that the CWC’s decision contravened several articles of the Constitution including 1(1), 126, 128 (2), (4), and provisions of the Supreme Court Act-2048 and the Judicial Administration Act-2073. He also demanded stern action against Deuba.

According to legal provisions, if Deuba is found guilty, he would be slapped a fine of Rs10,000 or one year jail or both.