Supreme Court allows review in Nepali Congress legitimacy dispute

Nepal's Supreme Court has opened a new phase in the legitimacy dispute over the Nepali Congress leadership by allowing a review petition. The case will now be heard by a three-justice bench, which will scrutinize a prior ruling that had recognized the faction led by Gagan Kumar Thapa as the party's legitimate leadership.

The review was initiated by former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and Purna Bahadur Khadka, who argued that the initial verdict contained legal errors. The original decision, issued by a division bench of Justices Sharanga Subedi and Nripdhwoj Niraula on April 17, had upheld the Election Commission's recognition of the special general convention's outcome. This ruling validated the working committee elected from that convention, allowing the Thapa-led committee to continue party activities.

The conflict first emerged when the Election Commission recognized the working committee elected under Thapa's leadership following the party's January special general convention. The Deuba faction challenged this decision in the Supreme Court. Previously, a single bench had declined to issue an interim order to suspend the commission's decision, instead requesting responses from the Election Commission and other respondents, which permitted the Thapa-led committee to function during the legal proceedings.

The Supreme Court's decision to allow a review signifies a critical juncture, as the new bench will now assess whether corrections are needed in the earlier verdict. The final decision will definitively settle the question of the Nepali Congress's official leadership.