Kathmandu, February 1:

The Supreme Court today issued a stay order against government authorities, including the Kathmandu Valley City Development Office, to stop construction work at the Chamati development area.

Responding to a writ petition filed by locals, including Bharatmani Devkota, a division bench of justices Gauri Dhakal and Tahir Ali Ansari issued the order. The bench said the stay order will hold until respondents submit affidavits to the Supreme Court and the court gives a fresh order on the matter.

The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Kathmandu Valley Town Development Committee, Land Integration Management Sub Committee and the Kathmandu Land Revenue Offices have been made defendants in the writ petition.

Demanding that a three-month-old tender notice issued for expediting construction work at the area be declared null and void and construction work be stopped, the locals had moved the Supreme Court.

The petitioners said the plan had affected over 1,000 locals. They claimed that the government had acquired their land but did nothing to develop it.