KATHMANDU, MAY 2
Additional Inspector General of Police Bishwo Raj Pokharel today filed a petition at the Supreme Court asking it to halt the government's decision to appoint Dhiraj Pratap Singh as the Nepal Police chief.
Pokharel filed the petition stating that appointment of Dhiraj Pratap Singh, the juniormost IGP candidate among four AIGs was an injustice towards him. Pokharel had already served in the position of AIG for over a year when the newly appointed IGP had become the AIG on 7 March earlier.
Pokharel asked the court to issue interim order in the case and stop Singh's appointment until the final verdict. He has also demanded from the court that he be appointed as acting-AIG until the case is finalised.
However, the government had appointed Singh the new chief of nearly 80,000 personnel on the basis of Police Rules – 2014. The rule allows the government to appoint police chief on the basis or merit and work execution and the candidate's ability to lead and encourage the entire police force, and gracefully hold respon-sibility of position, among other virtues.
Another AIG Sahakul Bahadur Thapa, who was willing to file the case together yesterday, said he is still preparing to file the petition.
Both Pokharel and Thapa have taken leave after the appointment of Singh as their senior officer.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey today conferred insignia of IGP on Singh. The ministry also conferred insignia to Raju Aryal, the newly appointed IGP of Armed Police Force. He was appointed IGP late last night.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 03, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
