Nepal vice president ordered to retake oath over language row

Jul 24, 2009, 11:32 GMT

   Kathmandu - The Nepalese Supreme Court Friday ordered Vice President Parmananda Jha to retake the oath of office and secrecy over a language row during his original swearing-in last year.

   Jha was elected vice president by Nepal's special assembly in July 2008 and took the oath of office and secrecy in Hindi, which led to widespread protests and criticism.

   A case was filed at the Supreme Court challenging the legality of the vice president's action.

   Delivering the final verdict, the Supreme Court Friday said his oath in Hindi was unconstitutional and illegal.

   'As a person who is responsible for upholding the law, the vice president must retake his oath of office and secrecy in Nepali,' the Supreme Court decision said. 'His oath in Hindi is to be annulled as it is against the legal provisions of the constitution.'

   Jha, an ethnic Madhesi, is Nepal's first-ever vice president and was elected to the post on July 19, 2008 after defeating a Maoist candidate.

   The election was part of the process to install new leadership after Nepal abolished the monarchy.

   Since his election, Jha has been embroiled in controversy over his use of Hindi.

   He defended his action by saying Hindi was understood by a majority of the people in southern Nepal, and was the language used extensively to communicate between different ethnic groups.

   However, his opponents have accused him of exceeding his authority and said he could have used his own language Maithali if he did not want to take the oath of office in Nepali.

   His oath in Hindi led to widespread rioting and strikes across Nepal in which dozens of people were injured.

   Jha had previously said he would abide by the Supreme Court decision.