Kathmandu, August 27:

The Supreme Court today ordered the Ministry of Education and Sports and the National Dalit Commission (NDC) not to halt this year’s MBBS programme.

A division bench of Justices Anup Raj Sharma and Damodar Prasad Sharma issued the order following a hearing.

Following an initial hearing on July 24, a single bench of Justice Kalyan Shrestha had directed the Ministry of Education and Sports and the National Dalit Commission to postpone the programme. After the Ministry of Education and Sports removed his name from scholarship under Dalit quota, Om Prakash Patel had moved the apex court last month stating that removal of his name from the list had infringed upon his right to education.

The ministry had removed his name as the NDC said Patel did not represent the Dalit community. On July 24, the apex court had issued a stay order till August 27. However, another group of students, including Achyat Mishra, filed a petition seeking the vacation of the stay order.