Nepal defense minister approves extension of term of eight generals

Kathmandu, June 1 (ANI): Nepal Defense Minister Bidya Devi Bhandari has approved a proposal from army chief General Rookmangud Katawal seeking job extension of eight Brigadier Generals.

According to Nepalnews, the new government is preparing to revoke the previous government's decision to pension off the generals through a cabinet decision.

A case on the extension the generals' term is pending in the Supreme Court.

On Sunday the apex court postponed its pre-scheduled hearing in the case for an indefinite period.

A division bench of Justices Tap Bahadur Magar and Mohan Prakash Sitoula deferred the hearing after they received a letter from the Office of the Attorney General (AG).

The Maoist-led government had pensioned off brigadier generals Nara Bahadur Kandel, Narendra Bahadur Rawal, Kumar Budhathoki, Pawan Bahadur Pandey, Pradip Bikram Rana, Shiva Kumar Poudel, Ramesh Bista and Raju Pratap KC in March.

Meanwhile, the Maoists have announced fresh protest programmes against the President's move to block the erstwhile government's decision to dismiss the army chief, and in favour of 'civil supremacy'.

During the party's central secretariat meeting, the Maoist leaders have decided to launch nationwide protests by mobilising all sister organisations from June 4.

"We have decided to launch protest movement to restore 'civil supremacy," said Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma.

According to Sharma, the party will stage demonstrations in front of the District Administration Offices of all 75 districts on June 4 and stage demonstrations in all VDCs throughout the nation from June 5.

Sharma said his party would continue obstructing the House against the President's move.

CA chairman Subash Chandra Nemwang on Saturday decided not to take the resolution registered by the Maoists at the parliament for discussion. (ANI)