KATHMANDU, MAY 5
The Supreme Court today refused to issue an interim order on a writ petition filed by Additional Inspector General of Nepal Police Bishwo Raj Pokharel against the government's decision to appoint the new chief of police.
Justice Sushma Lata Mathema did not issue the stay order on the nomination as sought by the petitioner.
However, Mathema has issued a show-cause notice to the government.
The final hearing of the case has been scheduled for May 31.
Pokharel had filed the writ at the apex court challenging the government's decision to promote Dhiraj Pratap Singh as head of the nearly 80,000 police force. Seeking a stay order, Pokharel had asked the court to appoint him acting IGP until the final verdict.
The appointment of the new IGP has stirred controversy, especially after a disgruntled Pokharel moved the court against the government's decision. AIG Pokharel has claimed he is the rightful person for the post.
Singh was the most junior AIG among the four in a line to head the police force.
Pokharel filed the petition stating that the appointment of Dhiraj Pratap Singh - the juniormost IGP candidate among four AIGs - was injustice to 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.
The government had appointed Singh the new chief of Nepal Police on the basis of Police Rules, 2014. The rule allows the government to appoint a police chief on the basis of merit and work execution and ability of the candidates to lead and encourage the entire police force, and gracefully hold the responsibility of the position.
Advocates Meghraj Pokharel, Satish Krishna Kharel, Harihar Dahal, and Mahadev Yadav are advocating for Pokharel while Singh is represented by Attorney General Kham Bahadur Khati and advocates Sushil Pant, Bhimarjun Acharya, and Tikaram Bhattarai, among others.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 06, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
