SC issues interim order not to appoint Karki as ambassador

KATHMANDU, June 28: The Supreme Court (SC) on Sunday issued an interim order in the name of the government not to implement its decision to appoint former Minister Yuvraj Karki as ambassador.

A division bench of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Prakash Kumar Dhungana hearing the writ petition filed by advocate Dipak Bikram Mishra issued the order not to appoint Karki to the post of ambassador stating that he does not meet the requirement to the post.  

The government had recommended Karki to the post of ambassador after amending the Directive on the Appointment of Ambassadors 2019. The government had amended the provision of minimum academic qualification needing Bachelor’s Level to the post stating that that the provision would not apply to a person who has already served as the minister.

However, the SC had already issued the interim order not to implement the amendment provision for the appointment stating that it creates discriminatory approach against the spirit of the constitution.

The Cabinet meeting held on May 8 had recommended Karki to the post of Ambassador to Bahrain.