The Patan High Court on Sunday issued an interim order, barring Pashupati Area Development Trust Executive Director Laxmi Pun from assuming office.

Bharat Marasini, a trust member, had filed a writ petition against Pun’s appointment on January 14 claiming that Pun didn’t meet the requirements to be appointed to the position.

Hearing on the petition, a joint bench of Judges Hrishiram Dawadi and Shyam Kumar Bhattarai on Sunday issued the order to stay Pun’s appointment.

Pun was appointed as the executive head of the Trust by a meeting of the trust council on December 20. Her appointment had also courted public criticism immediately after the decision.

The court order has reminded the provision of the regulations of the Trust that states, the executive director should have a master’s degree and 15 years of working experience in a public organisation or be a graduate with 15 years of experience in a public organisation.

Previously on December 28, 2023, a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives had directed the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and the trust authority to produce the minutes of the decision, academic credentials, proof of her experience and resume within three days.