Supreme Court registers petition challenging removal of Nepal Police chief

The Supreme Court on Friday registered a writ petition challenging the government’s decision to remove Dan Bahadur Karki as Nepal Police chief, clearing the way for a possible hearing after the Tihar holidays. Advocate Tika Bahadur Kunwar filed the petition on Karki’s behalf on Thursday, a day after the Cabinet removed him as inspector general of police and appointed him the prime minister’s special security adviser.

Additional Inspector General Manoj Kumar KC was appointed the new police chief and assumed office on Wednesday. The court administration had initially withheld registration on Thursday, saying it needed time to study the document.

Supreme Court sources said Chief Registrar Bimal Paudel, Registrar Thagindra Kattel and Ashok Chhetri, head of the case section, were involved in discussions on the petition. The petition seeks to overturn Karki’s appointment as special security adviser and reinstate him as inspector general for the remainder of his legally prescribed term.