The Supreme Court has issued show cause notices to the Prime Minister’s Office and Council of Ministers, the Home Ministry and Kathmandu District Administration Office on Tuesday asking to furnish reasons for detention of former ministers in the royal cabinet Ramesh Nath Pandey and Shrish Shumsher Rana.

Justice Tahir Ali Ansari issued the notices in response to the habeas corpus petitions filed by the two ministers on Monday seeking release. The single-bench also ordered the government to be present before the court for a hearing on Thursday on the detention of the ministers.

The government had arrested and given the former ministers a three-month detention letter on the recommendation of the Rayamajhi Commission. The ministers were accused of holding secret meetings to thwart the people’s movement.

The ex-ministers moved the Supreme Court claiming their detention was illegal. The ministers, in their writ have stated that the government has violated the fundamental rights under Article 12 and 14 of the Constitution on the right to assembly and fair trail.

Meanwhile, former assistant health minister Nikshya Shumsher Rana in the royal cabinet also filed writ petition at the apex court asking for this release on Tuesday. He has stated that the government has illegally detained him.

Besides the above three ex-ministers, the government on Friday also arrested former Home Minister Kamal Thapa and former Local Development Minister Tanka Dhakal.