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The controversy over the use of Hindi, which is not recognised for official use by Nepal’s interim constitution, during the swearing-in of Vice-President Paramananda Jha has shown no sign of ebbing with his refusal to abide by the supreme court (SC) order to retake oath in Nepali language.

Rebuffing the SC ruling that ordered him to take fresh oath in Nepali and the Cabinet’s request to honour the apex court order, Vice-President Jha on Sunday (August 30) 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 SC 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,” said he in Nepali, reading out a statement before the media.

Organising a press conference at his office on the last day of the deadline set by the SC to take the oath of office and secrecy in Nepali language, the Vice-President charged that “people bearing the important responsibility of delivering justice” have been misinterpreting the interim constitution and doing injustice.

He said, “It is against the rights of the citizens to use mother language.”

“…For me it was easier to maintain the post by obeying the supreme court’s unconstitutional order,” said he and argued that the ruling has abased the glory of the apex court.

The Vice-President also complained that some political parties supported the “anti-constitution” decision by staying quiet.

The apex court in its August 23 order stated that failure in taking the oath of office and secrecy in Nepali language by August 31 would automatically annul his berth as the vice president.

On Saturday (August 30), Jha sought a special favour from Prime Minister Nepal to avoid taking fresh oath. He urged the Prime Minister to ‘implement’ Article 151 of the Interim Constitution and request the President to nullify the SC ruling of August 23.

The Article allows the Cabinet to recommend to the president to “grant pardon and suspend, commute or remit any sentence passed by any court, special court, and military court or by any other judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative authority or body”. To operate this Article, the President however will have to intervene to suspend the SC order.

Jha has been trapped in controversy since he was sworn-in on July 23, 2008. His use of Hindi language had fuelled protests nationwide.