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The CPN-UML has moved the Supreme Court against the vote of confidence taken unconstitutionally by Koshi Province Chief Minister Uddhav Thapa.

The UML filed a writ at the apex court arguing that Thapa sought the vote of confidence against the Constitution.

UML Koshi Province Parliamentary Party leader and former Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki along with other leaders had reached the Supreme Court to register the writ.

Speaker Israel Mansuri had also cast his vote while Thapa, also the Nepali Congress Koshi Province Parliamentary Party leader, was seeking a vote of confidence.

There is a provision that the Speaker cannot vote to form a new government. The Speaker can cast a decisive vote if there is a tie.   

UML Koshi Province Parliamentary Party Chief Whip Rewati Raman Bhandari said that the process of filing a petition in the Supreme Court has been taken ahead as the Chief Minister took the vote of confidence by violating the Constitution.

“We have given the writ. It is in the process of registration. The vote of confidence was sought against the Constitution, law and parliamentary practice. Our demand that it should be annulled,” he said.

Thapa was appointed as the Chief Minister on August 1.

He sought the vote of confidence from the Province Assembly on Monday.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed his grief over the Dhading bus accident.

At least nine people were killed and over a dozen others injured when a passenger bus skidded off the road and plunged into the Trishuli river at Gajuri Rural Municipality-2 in Dhading district today.

The bus was heading towards Beni of Myagdi from Kathmandu.

Offering his condolences, PM Dahal directed the effective rescue efforts.

"I offer my heartfelt condolences to the deceased, and the bereaved families and well-wishers. While wishing for speedy recovery to the injured, I direct the Home administration, security agencies and local administration to carry out effective rescue efforts."

The main opposition CPN-UML said that the House obstruction will be cleared from today as the government has expressed its readiness to form a high-level inquiry commission to investigate the gold smuggling case.

Saying that the parties have agreed to form a high-level inquiry commission to investigate the gold smuggling scam during the meeting held this morning, UML Chief Whip Padam Giri said that the Parliament will be allowed to resume its business from today.

“The UML had been demanding formation of a high-level inquiry commission to investigate the gold smuggling case. The parties have reached an agreement on the same issue,” he said.

Highlighting that large quantities of gold are being smuggled to Nepal through various means, he expressed his belief that the inquiry commission will take the issue seriously.

“Gold is being smuggled to Nepal through various means. The commission will study and investigate the case seriously,” he said.

The nationally recognized parties have reached a consensus to form the commission on Wednesday.

The Nepal government will form the commission on September 22 and it will start work from the same day.

He said that the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police will continue its investigation into the gold smuggling case.

Giri was of the opinion that the CIB will submit the report by September 22 by completing the investigation.

The UML had been obstructing Parliament proceedings since July 26 demanding formation of a high-level probe committee to investigate the gold smuggling case.

The Press Council Nepal has written to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation over the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal’s act of seeking a written clarification from Annapurna Media Network (AMN) regarding news reports published in Annapurna Post daily. 

The letter argues that CAAN’s move contradicts the principles of press freedom. The meeting of the Code of Conduct Monitoring subcommittee of the council held on Aug 22 has urged the ministry to take necessary action against CAAN for the protection of press freedom, reads the letter.

Editorial freedom within the media pertains to the independence of publishers in making decisions devoid of external interference. This encompasses the autonomy of editors to determine content and coverage. The letter underlines that seeking explanations from the publisher while intertwining their other business activities and neglecting proper legal procedures amounts to an assault on editorial freedom. The Press Council Nepal has expressed serious concern over this matter.

The letter asserts that checking the authenticity of news falls under the jurisdiction of Press Council Nepal, not CAAN. The sub-committee’s meeting decided to delve into this matter further by consulting former chairs of the council and former presidents of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ).

Nepal’s challenging geographical isolation poses significant difficulties in accessing healthcare and delivering sustenance. Air services become indispensable for these essential needs. However, CAAN introduced a policy to suspend air services in remote districts after 12 pm starting July 31. This decision had severe repercussions in remote and mountainous regions of Nepal. Regrettably, due to the absence of air services, four children lost their lives in the remote areas of Karnali province as they couldn’t receive timely medical care due to CAAN's new policy.

After Annapurna Post, a sister publication of ApEx, highlighted the hardships facing people living in far-flung areas, the issue garnered considerable attention. Various media outlets, including BBC, Kantipur, and Radio Nepal, also covered similar stories, underscoring the urgency of government intervention to restore essential air services in remote regions of the country.

Despite appeals from the Chief Minister of Karnali province, the federal Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, political leaders and local representatives, CAAN chose not to lift air service restrictions. Instead, it targeted the media for exposing what was perceived as a misguided and callous decision.

In its letter, CAAN has accused AMN of ‘repeatedly disseminating news, analyses, and commentaries that severely jeopardize flight safety’. The letter further highlights that despite Capt Rameshwar Thapa’s position as the head of an airline company responsible for ensuring flight safety, he appears to have misused his publishing authority through his media, engaging in activities that spread misinformation and rumors.

Earlier, the FNJ and other press unions such as Nepal Press Union, Press Chautari Nepal, Socialist Press Organization Nepal, Forum of Nepalese Journalist and Madhesi Journalist Society Nepal warned CAAN to immediately withdraw its letter seeking clarification from AMN as the move is beyond its jurisdiction.