The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered cabinet vice-chairman Dr Tulsi Giri to produce a written statement on a contempt of court case filed by the Nepal Bar Association (NBA).

A single bench of Justice Rajendra Kumar Bhandari issued the order asking Giri to present a written statement within seven days regarding his public statement in Biratnagar last month in which he said judges were not free from pressure from outside while deciding cases.

NBA general secretary Madhav Banskota had filed a contempt of court case against the cabinet vice-chairperson on September 21. Banskota in his writ had argued that Giri’s statement amounted to contempt of the court.