The Supreme Court has issued a show-cause notice to Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, asking him to submit a written response on a contempt of court case filed by advocate Deepak Raj Joshi.

After hearing the case, a single bench of Justice Hari Krishna Karki on Monday ordered the defendant, Shah, to provide a written clarification either personally or through his representative within seven days.

“The Supreme Court has issued a show-cause notice against Mayor Balen Shah,” said Bimal Poudel, spokesperson of the Supreme Court.

Advocate Joshi had filed the contempt of court case at the Supreme Court against Mayor Shah on August 18.

On August 9, the City had attempted to demolish an illegally constructed structure of Norvic International Hospital in Thapathali by issuing a 24-hour ultimatum. But it backtracked on its step and formed a probe committee to investigate the alleged encroachment.

Later, the committee was forced to stop its work after the Supreme Court issued an interlocutory order not to remove the structures built by the hospital.

Mayor Shah then on August 10, wrote a Facebook post, saying: “I would like to request for an amendment to the constitution to give the Supreme Court all the authority related to approving the building design and taking action against illegal constructions.”

Claiming his reaction in the public forum amounted to contempt of court, Joshi had filed the case against Shah at the Supreme Court.

Advocate Om Prakash Aryal, the newly appointed legal advisor to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, said that the City is yet to receive the court’s order.

“We will act accordingly after receiving the order,” Aryal told the Post.