KATHMANDU: The Patan High Court has issued an interim order preventing the implementation of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)’s decision to suspend Municipal Police Chief Rajunath Pandey.

In its directive issued under Rule 42(1) of the High Court Regulation, the court ordered authorities to maintain the current status quo and allow Pandey to continue performing his official duties.

The order came in response to a writ petition filed by Pandey, who sought judicial intervention against his suspension.

A division bench comprising Justices Rishiraj Bhandari and Dilliratna Shrestha delivered the ruling.

Pandey had listed Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Saroj Guragain, acting police head Bishnu Joshi, and the KMC Executive Office as respondents.

The suspension followed an incident on Chaitra 21, 2081 BS (April 3, 2025), in which Pandey obstructed CAO Guragain from entering his office.

Guragain had returned from a three-month leave after a controversy over the design approval of the Kathmandu View Tower project at Old Bus Park.

Upon his return, Mayor Shah deployed Municipal Police under Pandey to prevent Guragain’s re-entry. However, Deputy Mayor Dangol and several ward chairs intervened, enabling Guragain to mark his attendance and resume work, despite resistance from the police.

Relations between Mayor Shah and CAO Guragain have remained strained since the confrontation.