Kathmandu- The Supreme Court on Friday decided to continue the interim stay order on the government’s decision to ban public protests at key places, including Maitighar Mandala, in the city.

The two-judge bench of Hari Krishna Karki and Dambar Bahadur Shahi passed the order, first issued on July 6. “The next hearing will be held on July 16,” said senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi.

The SC does not have details of the decision passed by the concerned authority including the order of the Chief District Officers of the Kathmandu Valley.The SC has directed the government to submit full details of the decision.

Advocate Tripathi had filed a writ petition on July 5 in the SC urging a stay order on the government’s decision to ban public rallies at Maitighar Mandala and other places in the city.

In his writ, petitioner Tripathi had claimed restricting people from staging peaceful protests violates their freedom of expression.Subsequently, the authorities detained many protestors who defied the protest rally ban.On July 6, the bench of Justice Ishwor Khatiwada issued a show cause notice to the government on its decision to ban peaceful demonstrations at public places like Maitighar Mandala besides issuing an interim order not to impose the ban.

Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa on June 29 had declared Maitighar Mandala as a protest free zone effective from July 15, reiterating the Kathmandu District Security Committee’s decision announced on April 13. Citing the practice followed by many countries of designating specific places for demonstrations, the Nepal government imposed ban public rallies at some popular places including Maitighar Mandala. Nepali Congress, Bibeksheel Sajha Party and various rights activists including Dr Govinda KC stridently oppose the government’s move.