The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the government not to take any action for now against Maya Kumari Sharma, the Nepali ambassador to Qatar, who has been recalled.

A single bench of Justice Prakash Wosti was responding to a September 30 petition filed by Sharma against the government’s September 26 decision to call her back.

Following the government decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a letter to the Qatari government, informing it of Sharma’s dismissal, while the government has also instructed her not to attend office.

Sharma, who was appointed ambassador from the Maoist quota in February 2012, hit the headlines for her “unprofessional conduct” and controversial remarks. On June 24, the Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry sought a clarification from her over her reported remarks that ‘Qatar is an open jail’. Sharma now argues that since she was appointed by the President, the Cabinet alone cannot recall her. She also says that she was not given a chance to explain her activities.

Published on: 5 October 2013 | The Kathmandu Post