Nepal Vice President's position defunct from today

Kathmandu, Aug 31 (ANI): Paramananda Jha's position as Nepal Vice President has become defunct from Monday with Jha's refusal to take oath in Nepali within the deadline given by the Supreme Court.

Rejecting the Supreme Court ruling that ordered him to take fresh oath in Nepali, Vice President Jha has declared that he will decide whether to retake the oath only if the Constitution is amended.

"The situation is that the mother language of Nepalis people so far has not been respected by the previous decisions of the Supreme Court and the government level. Thus, I can think about the issue of oath-taking only after the government and the Constituent Assembly (CA) honours the mother languages," Nepalnews quoted him as, saying.

He also criticized the Supreme Court's order to him to re-take oath in Nepali or else vacate his post.

He called the Supreme Court's verdict 'prejudiced' and against the tenet and spirit of the interim Constitution and said it serves no purpose other than to start a "language war" as it is against the basic right of the people "to take oath in his own mother tongue".

He also complained that some political parties supported the "anti-constitution" decision by staying quiet.

Supreme Court had issued a verdict on August 25 ordering him to take oath in Nepali within a week and that failure to do so would render his position defunct.

According to the court verdict, Jha cannot perform any duty of the Vice President and that he is not entitled to special security and privileges given to him as the Vice President. (ANI)