Wednesday, May 17 2006 13:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepal's Supreme Court today (May 17, 2006) issued a show cause notice to the government to furnish reasons for the detention of two Royal government ministers Ramesh Nath Pandey and Shrish Shumsher Rana.

Acting on a Habeas corpus petition filed by the two minister seeking their release, a single bench of Justice Tahir Ali Ansari asked the Prime Minister's Office and Council of Ministers, the Home Ministry and Kathmandu District Administration Office to furnish reasons for their detention.

The court also ordered the government to be present during the next hearing on Thursday.

Meanwhile, former assistant health minister of the Royal cabinet Nikshya Shumsher Rana also filed a writ petition in the apex court seeking his release.

The government had arrested five former ministers at the recommendation of the high-level probe commission for abuse of authority and misappropriation of government fund to suppress last month's popular uprising.

They have also been charged with using excessive force to crush the pro-democracy demonstrations.

The two other ministers arrested by the government are former Home Minister Kamal Thapa and former Local Development Minister Tanka Dhakal.