Valley
Top court spikes plan to ban public protests
The Supreme Court on Friday issued an interim order to the government not to implement its decision of banning protests at public spaces including Maitighar Mandala.The Supreme Court on Friday issued an interim order to the government not to implement its decision of banning protests at public spaces including Maitighar Mandala.
A single bench of Justice Ishwor Khatiwada issued a show cause notice to the government on its decision to ban peaceful rallies.
Senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi filed a writ petition at the court on Thursday demanding interim order to the government not to implement decision.
Restricting people from peaceful protests violates their freedom of expression, the petitioner claimed in his writ.
“The Supreme Court has called the government to discuss the issue on July 13 while issuing a show cause notice why the ban was necessary,” Tripathi said.
A joint bench would hear the case after discussion. On June 29 the government announced Maitighar Mandala as a no-protest zone from July 15 onwards, as decided by the Kathmandu District Security Committee on April 13.
Opposition parties and rights activists oppose the decision. The authorities apprehended several protesters who defied the government’s decision by assembling at Maitighar Mandala earlier this week.