KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a temporary interim order not to implement the provisions the government amended to remove the age limit of 65 for the appointment of governor of the Rashtra Bank.

A single bench of Justice Nityananda Pandey issued a temporary interim order in the name of the Government of Nepal to this effect.

The apex court has asked the Nepal government, the Ministry of Finance and the Governor Selection Committee to appear before it on April 20 to discuss whether or not to continue with the interim order.

Advocates Pratibha Upreti and Bishal Thapa had filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court stating that it was illegal to amend the criteria for the appointment of governors in their own favour.

The Government of Nepal had removed the provision of age qualification in the appointment of governors by removing Section 3(c) of the Criteria related to the appointment and nomination of office-bearers and members of public bodies affiliated to the Ministry of Finance.

The section states that ‘in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, thirty years of age and in the case of other officials and members other than the Chief Executive Officer, thirty-five years of age and not exceeding sixty-five years of age’ will prevail.

In the writ petition, it was sought to appoint a person of his choice without specifying the age-related qualifications.

The writ petition had also sought a mandamus order to set aside the government’s decision and appoint a qualified person as the governor of Nepal Rastra Bank.