Supreme Court Denies Interim Order in Lamkichuha Hospital Dispute

April 27, Dhangadhi – The Supreme Court has declined to issue an interim order on the writ petition filed by Lamkichuha Municipality concerning the Lamkichuha Hospital dispute. The municipality had submitted the petition to the Supreme Court on April 6, seeking an interim order to halt the implementation of the hospital management committee formed by the provincial government, along with related decisions, actions, and correspondence. Additionally, the municipality requested an order to stop unnecessary protests and propaganda in the hospital area. Advocate Devikumari Joshi represented the municipality in filing the petition.

The Chief Minister of Sudurpashchim Province, Kamal Bahadur Shah, the provincial government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Population, the Ministry of Social Development, along with relevant ministers and secretaries, were named as respondents. Senior Advocate Satish Krishna Kharel and Advocate Bhesraj Pant argued on behalf of the petitioner, while Thakendra Raj Joshi, Chief Attorney of the Sudurpashchim Provincial Government, presented the defense. After hearing both sides, the bench comprising Justices Sunil Pokharel and Nityanand Pandey ruled that an interim order was not necessary.

This decision by the Supreme Court paves the way for the operation of Lamkichuha Provincial Hospital. The Sudurpashchim provincial government has already allocated a budget of NPR 45 million in the current fiscal year to run the hospital. While the provincial government had resolved to upgrade Lamkichuha Hospital to a provincial hospital, the formation of the hospital management committee sparked the dispute. The conflict intensified after the municipality refused to recognize the committee, stating that the hospital had been transferred without proper handover from the provincial government.