The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench on Wednesday issued a show-cause order in a writ filed by former Nepali Congress lawmakers against the dissolution of the House of Representatives, while refusing to issue an interim order against the dissolution.

The bench asked the respondents to submit written explanations on why an interim order should not be issued as sought by the petitioners.

Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut and justices Sapana Pradhan Malla, Kumar Regmi, Manoj Kumar Sharma and Nahakul Subedi heard the case.

The writ petition was filed by former Congress chief whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire and seven other former lawmakers, arguing that the House dissolution was unconstitutional and sought an interim order to pave the way for forming a new government in line with the constitution.

The Office of the President, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, the Election Commission, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, and the Speaker have been named as defendants.

The petition was registered on December 9.

Earlier, UML leaders and several legal professionals had also filed petitions challenging the dissolution. The court has so far declined interim orders in all 20 such petitions, issuing only show-cause notices.

Then prime minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on September 9 failing to handle the Gen Z protests that erupted on September 8. President Ramchandra Paudel then formed an interim government under former chief justice Sushila Karki on September 12. On the government’s recommendation, the President dissolved the House and elections were announced for March 5.