#NEPAL #kpoli #ONLYNEPAL Nepal’s Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of Parliament, which was dissolved in December last year – a ruling that is likely to thrust the Himalayan nation into a political crisis. Monday’s court order came in response to several cases filed with the court charging that Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli’s decision to dissolve the legislature was unconstitutional. Keep reading Thousands in Nepal protest against dissolution of Parliament Rival communist faction strikes over Nepal Parliament dissolution Nepal’s caretaker PM removed from governing Communist party Nepal economy hit as global warming bares snow-covered peaks The court said a meeting of the reinstated Parliament must be called within 13 days. Nepal has been in political turmoil since PM Oli made the sudden decision and called for elections 18 months ahead of schedule amid the coronavirus pandemic that has hit the tourism-dependent economy hard. Oli has defended the decision, saying his rivals in the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) had not cooperated with the government in the appointment of officials to panels such as the national human rights and anti-corruption commissions, and in other policy decisions. The verdict means 69-year-old Oli, who was elected in 2018 following his party’s landslide win in the 2017 election, faces a no-confidence vote. The court’s decision was welcomed by the opposition as well as members of the dissident faction of Oli’s own party. Narayan Kaji Shrestha, spokesman for the faction, said the court has “protected the spirit of democracy”. “The prime minister should resign on moral grounds, taking responsibility for his unconstitutional attempt. Otherwise, we will take the necessary decision from the Parliament,” Shrestha said. About 100 slogan-shouting activists, their faces smeared in vermillion, lit candles on the street in the heart of Kathmandu to celebrate the verdict and urged Oli to quit. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute