The Supreme Court has issued an interim order barring Gandaki Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pande from taking any decision of long-term significance until the case is finally decided. A single bench of Justice Shreekant Paudel issued the order on Wednesday during a preliminary hearing of a writ filed by Lilbahadur Thapa. The writ says CPN-UML left the provincial government and its leader submitted a letter withdrawing support to the Province Head on Bhadau 10. Under Article 188(2) of the Constitution, a chief minister must seek a confidence vote within 30 days of a coalition partner pulling out. The petition claims Pande has not done so. The court issued a show-cause notice asking respondents to submit written replies by Kartik 11. It has given the case priority and directed that a hearing date be set in the week after Kartik 11. The core constitutional questions will be settled at later hearings.