SUPREME COURT PUTS ON HOLD BIPA AGREEMENT

SUPREME COURT BENCH STAYS IMPLEMENTATION OF INDO-NEPAL BIPPA ACCORD
Kathmandu, 29 Nov. The Supreme Court Monday stayed the implementation of the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) signed between Nepal and India during the
October visit of Prime Minister Babuam Bhattarai to the
southern neighbouring country.
The implementation was stayed until the agreement’s approval by parliament 24 hours after the high profile Nepal visit of Indian
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to sign a bilateral agreement to potect investments.
A three-member special bench of Justices Tahir Ali Ansari, Baidhya Nath Upadhyay and Bharat Bahadur Karki issued the order which says the agreement should first be tabled parliament for approval.
Article 156 of the Interim Constitution and Sections 4 and 5 of Nepal Treaty Act-1990 has provision for parliamentary ratification of treaties signed with foreign countries, the order said.


The order was issued n response to a public interest litigation filed by
Advocate Balkrishna Neupane who said against Nepal’s sovereignty and integrity.
A section of UCPN (Maoist) leading the government with six
Madeshbadi parties opposed the agreement as anti-national.
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