SC ASKS GOVT.WHY COURT ORDER ON MURDER CHARGE AGAINST MAOIST SPOKESMAN AGNI SAPKOTA NOT PURSUED Kathmandu, 26 Nov.: The Supreme Court has issued an order against the government decision of protecting the UCPN-Maoist´s leaders Agni Prasad Sapkota and Surya Man Dong from their involvement in a murder, RSS reports. The SC on Monday issued an interim order in the name of government, asking it not to implement the decision of putting on hold the charge on Maoists´ leaders Sapkota and Dong of murdering Arjun Lama from Dapcha of Kavre district. A single bench of Justice Baijanath Upadhyay handed down the order in response to a writ petition filed on November 23 by Arjun´s wife, Purni Maya in which she sought the cancellation of the government´s decision to put on hold the murder charge. Also, the government has been asked to show why the action on murder charge against Sapkota and Dong could not be taken ahead. The Council of Ministers on July 27, 2012 had decided to put on hold the action on the first information report (FIR) filed at the District Police Office, Kavre against leader Sapkota and Dong for their involvement in Lama´s murder. The government decision had breached the SC order of March 10, 2008 about the case. Leaders Sapkota and Dong have been accused of directing the murder of Arjun Lama at Charkilla of Budhakhani VDC, Kavre in July 2005, three months after he was abducted from a school programme at Chhatrebajh of the district. Challenging the government decision to protect the Maoists leaders, putting on hold the FIR, Arjun´s wife Purni Maya moved the SC with a writ petition, reasoning that there was no constitutional and legal provision that government could put on hold the FIR filed with due process. It was arbitrary and ill-intended move of the government to influence the case, she has argued. An NGO Advocacy Forum provided legal support to Purni Maya Nnnn FORMER ISRAEL PM EHUD BARAK QUITS POLITICS Kathmandu, 26 Nov : Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday abruptly announced he was quitting politics, shaking up the country´s political system just weeks ahead of general elections, AP reports from Jerusalem.. Barak, a decorated former general and one-time prime minister, said he would stay on in his current post until a new government is formed following the Jan. 22 balloting. "I didn´t make this decision without hesitating, but I made it wholeheartedly," he told a hastily arranged news conference, saying he had been wrestling with the decision for weeks. Barak´s resignation could mean the departure of the most moderating influence on hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to retain his job after the election. Barak, who heads a small centrist faction in parliament, had often served as Netanyahu´s unofficial envoy to Washington in order to smooth over differences with the Obama White House. Barak, 70, made the surprise announcement even after polls showed his breakaway Independence Party gaining momentum after Israel´s recent military offensive in the Gaza Strip. "I feel I have exhausted my political activity, which had never been an object of desire for me. There are many ways for me to serve the country, not just through politics," he said, adding his decision was spurred in part by his desire to spend more time with his family. Barak and Netanyahu, who enjoyed a close working relationship for most of the past four years, reportedly have fallen out over whether to defer to the U.S. on any attack against Iranian nuclear facilities. Barak´s detractors in Netanyahu´s Likud Party wanted him replaced. Barak evaded repeated questions about whether he might agree to serve as a Cabinet minister in an upcoming government, leaving open the possibility that he might still retain an impact on Israeli politics. While most Cabinet ministers also hold parliamentary seats, small numbers have been appointed as "professional" ministers without winning election. Nnnn