Kathmandu, August 21

Three nominees for ambassadors who were among the 14 nominees whose names were withdrawn by the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government today filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court challenging the government’s decision.

The petitioners include Niranjan Kumar Thapa, Khagendra Basnyat and Bharat Bahadur Raymajhi. Thapa, Basnyat and Raymajhi were nominated as Nepal’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates respectively by the KP Sharma Oli-led government when the latter nominated 22 persons for Nepal’s ambassadors to various foreign countries.

Dahal led government, however, withdrew the names of 14 people who were recommended on the basis of their political affiliations. Other eight nominees were career diplomats whose nominations were confirmed by the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee.

The petitioners, who jointly filed a writ petition today,   stated that the new government’s decision to withdraw their nominations for ambassadors violated their right to equality. The petitioners have said that although the two thirds majority of PHSC had the power to reject any nominee, the government or any other body had no power to withdraw their names in the middle of the hearing process.

A few days ago other four nominees whose names were also withdrawn by the government had filed similar petition on which the SC had issued a temporary interim order.

Hearing on the case is scheduled for Wednesday when the court will decide whether or not to continue the interim order.