Supreme Court (SC) on Friday issued an interim order to the government not to relieve Dr. Maya Kumari Sharma of the post of Nepalese ambassador to Qatar.

A single bench of Justice Prakash Wasti has also sought reasons from the defendants within the next 15 days for the decision to sack Dr. Sharma.

Dr. Sharma filed a writ petition Monday against her sacking, naming the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as defendants.

SC Spokesperson Shree Kanta Poudel said Justice Wasti has summoned both sides for discussions. Whether or not to continue the interim order will be decided after the discussions.

The cabinet on September 6 relieved Dr. Sharma of her post after she failed to resign promptly even though Foreign Secretary Arjun Bahadur Thapa and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal suggested to her to do so. Dr. Sharma was appointed ambassador in January 2012 under the Maoist quota.

Dr. Sharma courted controversy for describing Qatar as an ´open jail´ during a television interview, and for her decision to close down a hostel at the embassy premises for distressed Nepalese nationals.

Arguing that the government had acted illegally in recalling her, Dr. Sharma, in the writ petition, demanded an interim order allowing her to continue as envoy to Qatar. She maintains that she was sacked without being given an opportunity to furnish clarifications even though she was appointed through parliamentary hearings.

Published on: 5 October 2013 | Republica