Kathmandu, June 24

Nepal Government reinstated the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) led by Rukma Shumsher Rana here on Tuesday.

"The minister-level meeting on Tuesday decided to recognise the committee registered under the National Directive Act 1961," said Chief of Kathmandu District Administration Office Jaya Mukunda Khanal. "The meeting also decided to direct the Pradhan-led committee to hand over the properties to the Rana-led committee," CDO Khanal added.

"The election of the organisation named Nepal Olympic Committee has been cancelled reinstating the old committee, which has been given the directions to hold the fresh elections within 30 days," said Khanal. The NOC was registered at the Kathmandu District Administration Office and was also affiliated with the National Sports Council (NSC).

The decision ousted the committee led by Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, who was elected on March 13 last year. The ministry made the decision responding to the petition filed by the then members of the NOC executive committee after the elections were held on March 13. The NOC had held its elections defying the Patan Appellate Court orders not to hold the elections on March 13.

No problem for us, says Pradhan

KATHMANDU: The "ousted" Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) President Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan said the government decision to cancel its registration at the Kathmandu District Administration Office would not affect in its functioning. "The decision will not affect us as we have been registered under the National Sports Council," Pradhan said. "We are registered at the supreme body of sports and we will carry on with our responsibilities," he added. — HNS