Kathmandu, Feb. 8 -- In a major setback for the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli government, the Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned its decision to allow the Jhapa-based Giri Bandhu Tea Estate to swap land exceeding the legal ownership ceiling in any other place within Koshi Province.

The court's constitutional bench led by Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha ruled that the April 26, 2021 decision of the Oli Cabinet contravened Section 12 (C) of the Land Act 1964 and was immature.

"Therefore, the decision and subsequent actions taken after that have been quashed," reads a point in the brief ruling. Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Prakash Man Singh Raut, Sapana Malla Pradhan and Sushma Lata Mathema are the other members of the bench.

The Oli gover...