Senior advocate Bhandari, 94, among those to participate in reply debate today

KATHMANDU, July 5: Petitioners are scheduled to conclude their reply debate on Monday. 

Four legal practitioners will present their arguments on behalf of the petitioners including 146 members of the dissolved House as a reply to the defendants. 

Senior advocate Krishna Prasad Bhandari, 94, is also scheduled to take part in the reply debate along with senior advocates Shambhu Thapa, Badri Bahadur Karki and Harihar Dahal. 

Plaintiffs have 2 hours remaining to present their arguments during the reply debate, meaning the debate from both sides will conclude on Monday.

Following the conclusion of reply debate, four-member amicus curiae will present its opinion on the case which will be followed by the final verdict of the court.  

President Bidya Devi Bhandari, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, dissolved the House of Representatives (HoR) as per Article 76 (7) on May 22 and announced snap polls for November 12 and 19. 

Following House dissolution, as many as 26 writ petitions have been filed at the Supreme Court, challenging the move and demanding the apex court reinstate House. A five-member constitutional bench has been hearing the case for more than a month.