Kathmandu, January 26:

The Supreme Court today issued a stay order to the government authorities to fill the vacancies in Agriculture Development Bank Limited (ADBL) through the process initiated last year and not through any other means.

A division bench of justices Kalyan Shrestha and Prakash Wosti issued the order following a hearing conducted on a case against the suspension of the recruitment process. The bench directed the authorities — ADBL, its board of directors and executive officer and the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority — not to suspend the recruitment process.

The bench directed the authorities to conduct interviews for vacant posts for which written tests had already been taken.

Alleging the authorities of trying to select their near and dear ones in the posts of legal officers, 24 candidates had moved the apex court two weeks ago.