After the Supreme Court issued an interim order not to implement the government’s decision to recall ambassadors, several ambassadors who had already purchased tickets to return to Nepal have been stopped. Most of them had bought tickets and packed their belongings, as their return dates had already been fixed. The court order came just as most of the ambassadors were handing over their duties and preparing to return.

On Sunday, a joint bench of Justices Sharanga Subedi and Shrikant Paudel issued an interim order preventing the implementation of the government’s decision to recall the ambassadors until a final verdict is reached.

The order states:
“Since the final verdict will determine the outcome, for now, the decision made by the Council of Ministers on Ashoj 30 (October 16) to recall ambassadors shall not be implemented, enforced, or executed. The situation shall remain as it is.” The court observed that there was no valid reason or justification behind the decision made by the government led by Sushila Karki to recall 11 ambassadors, and therefore issued the interim order.

The order further notes:
“It appears that recalling 11 out of the 17 residential ambassadors appointed on the same date by the then Council of Ministers could potentially affect Nepal’s international relations. The decision to remove and recall them lacks any stated reason or justification for such action.”

On Ashoj 30 (October 16), the government decided to recall ambassadors from China, Germany, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. These ambassadors had been appointed by the then government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Shrawan 14, 2081 (July 29, 2024).

The ambassadors appointed at the same time to Australia, India, Denmark, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and South Africa will continue in their positions, as their recall decision remains unchanged.