SC stays decision to recall 11 ambassadors

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order against the government’s decision to recall 11 ambassadors from various Nepali missions abroad.

A division bench of Justices Shreekanta Poudel and Saranga Subedi issued the order on Sunday.

The Cabinet meeting held on October 16 had decided to recall Dr Krishna Prasad Oli (China), Lokdarshan Regmi (United States), Chandra Ghimire (United Kingdom), Netra Timilsina (Malaysia), Shail Rupakheti (Germany), Dhan Prasad Pandit (Israel), Janga Prasad Chauhan (Russia), Sanil Nepal (Spain), Ramesh Chandra Paudel (Qatar), Naresh Bikram Dhakal (Saudi Arabia), and Durga Bahadur Subedi (Japan).

“As the Cabinet decision to recall and relieve only 11 ambassadors from their positions does not mention any reasons substantiating the necessity or justification for such action, the Court finds it appropriate to maintain the status quo until a final verdict is reached on this petition. Therefore, an interim order has been issued in the name of the defendants, directing them not to implement, enforce, or cause to be enforced the Cabinet decision regarding the recall of ambassadors, and to keep the situation as it is,” the SC order reads.

Since the tenure of the 11 recalled ambassadors is still in effect and does not mention any reasons for their recall, there is also no indication that any steps are being taken to appoint new ambassadors to the positions that will become vacant, it added.