Weekly Dispute: Court Demands Settlement between Shrestha and Subba over ‘Amicus Curiae’.

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Kathmandu – In a recent development regarding a contempt of court case, the editors of Saptahik and Dristi News Dot Com, Shambhulal Shrestha and M.P. Subba, have been summoned by a special court to pay a fine of NPR 25,000 each.

After both editors provided their statements on Thursday, a heated discussion ensued among the members of the special court, chaired by Teknarayan Kunwar, with members Tejnarayan Singh Rai, Ram Bahadur Thapa, Muraribabu Shrestha, Riten Thapa, and Vidur Koirla also present. This decision was made by the panel of all seven judges present in the special court for the first time in history to oversee the contempt case.

The complexity and public importance of the case were taken into consideration by the panel of judges, who also requested the appointment of an Amicus Curiae (court assistant) for the final hearing of the case.

Ramesh Khatri, a representative of Kansai Nepal News, expressed his opinion on the matter stating that the involvement of legal experts and advisors in court cases is a common practice, with the Amicus Curiae providing recommendations and suggestions to the court while not having decision-making authority.

Under the provisions of Rule 73 of the Special Court Regulations 2080, the court has the authority to appoint a court assistant in cases involving significant public interest or complex legal issues, as outlined in the rule.

In conclusion, the Amicus Curiae plays a crucial role in providing advice and recommendations to the court, ensuring that all aspects of a case are thoroughly examined by legal experts without influencing the final decision-making process, which remains solely with the judges on the panel.


Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: June 27, 2025 12:00 am