A contempt of court case has been registered in the Supreme Court of Nepal against Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and several ministers. The case, brought by advocate Padam Bahadur Shrestha, alleges the failure to implement a judgment related to climate change mitigation.

The contempt petition revolves around the non-compliance with a mandamus order issued by the Supreme Court on December 25, 2018. The court had directed the government to create a separate law addressing the adaptation and mitigation of climate change. The order emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change as a critical issue.

The named respondents include Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the Minister for Forests and Environment, the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Chief of Climate Change Management Division.

According to constitutional provisions, judgments and orders from the Supreme Court are binding on all bodies, and failure to adhere to them can lead to legal consequences. The contempt of court petition contends that the opponents have not implemented the court’s verdict for years, amounting to disobedience of the Supreme Court’s decision.

In the context of contempt of court, the offender can face imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to Rs 10,000, or both. The writ petition urges the court to summon the respondents and order immediate implementation of the decision.