KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has directed Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa to submit a written response within seven days in a contempt of court case related to his recent public remarks on delayed constitutional appointments.

The case, currently under consideration, was filed on Sunday by advocates Ananta Raj Luintel, Prativa Upreti, and Bishal Thapa.

It stems from Thapa’s criticism of the judiciary, in which he accused the Supreme Court of deliberately stalling decisions on 52 pending constitutional appointments, even though the terms of several appointees had already expired. His comments were made publicly last Thursday.

On Tuesday, a joint bench of Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla and Justice Nityananda Pandey issued the order, instructing Thapa to respond either personally or through a legal representative.