Interestingly, several other cases of graver national interest have been lying in the apex court without any resolution in sight.

One of them is the critical case of Nepal Army chief Gen Rookmangood Katawal. Katawal's tenure ends next month.

However, a petitioner moved court more than a year ago, saying the army chief had lied about his age and should have retired earlier.

The case is of paramount interest because Nepal's first Maoist government fell this year over Katawal.

The Maoists tried to sack him but failed after President Ram Baran Yadav reinstated the general.

If it is proved that Katawal should have retired earlier, it would strengthen the Maoist cause.

However, even with the army chief due to retire, Supreme Court is yet to resolve it.

Jha said he would take the oath again in Nepali if the people wanted him to. However, he would not endure being coerced into swearing in Nepali by the court.

Nepal's Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has started consulting legal experts to find an acceptable solution.

The regional parties that supported Jha become vice president have been slow to speak up on his behalf since they are now in disarray themselves.

The biggest Terai party, the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, has split with the dissident faction seeking to register a new party with the Election Commission.

Jha also created a stir while taking the oath because instead of the tight trousers and long shirt that is the national dress of Nepal, he wore the dhoti and kurta favoured by the Terai people in India and Nepal.

The dhoti and the Hindi language are regarded with disdain by Nepal's elite hill community, who regard them as the trade marks of neighbour India.