The Supreme Court ,issuing an interim order on Friday, has asked the state authorities not to implement the decision of Bharat Raj Gautam, general secretary of the House of Representatives, to invalidate the suspension of suspended Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana.

Responding to a writ petition challenging the Wednesday’s decision of Gautam to clear the way for Rana to resume his work, the Constitutional Bench of the apex court on Friday ordered the authorities concerned to continue his suspension until the next order. The bench also issued a show cause notice against Rana and Gautam seeking their clarification why shouldn’t the latter’s decision be scrapped.

Both of them have seven days to answer. The Friday’s order has foiled Rana’s attempt to resume his office before he retires on Tuesday.

Based on an application from Rana, Gautam on Wednesday wrote to the President’s Office, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Constitutional Council, the Supreme Court and the Judicial Council—informing them that the impeachment motion registered on February 13 had become ineffective with the election of a new House of Representatives.

Rana on Tuesday had written to the Parliament Secretariat requesting it to inform the authorities concerned to allow him to resume his work, stating that the impeachment motion registered in the previous House had become ineffective with the election of a new House.