The Supreme Court on Friday refused to issue an interim order in favour of former Nepal Electricity Authority Managing Director Kulman Ghising.

During the preliminary hearing, Ghising’s lawyers had requested an interim order to bar newly appointed Managing Director Hitendra Dev Shakya from the role.

Justice Abdul Aziz Musalman said that an interim order would not be issued at this stage but issued a show-cause notice and summoned both parties for a hearing on Sunday.

Ghising submitted the petition through his representative on Wednesday which was registered on Thursday.

Ghising has named the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, along with the Ministry of Energy, as defendants in the case. He has sought an interim order to annul the government decision and reinstate him immediately.

A Cabinet meeting on Monday dismissed Ghising, who had only four months remaining in his tenure, from his position as NEA’s managing director. He has been replaced by Hitendra Dev Shakya.

In response to the sacking, opposition parties have raised concerns, with political leaders questioning the timing and legality of the dismissal. Ghising’s case has sparked further discussions regarding governance and transparency in public sector appointments.

Lawmakers obstructed meetings in the House of Representatives as well as the National Assembly. They demanded Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s explanation for Ghising’s dismissal.

In the meantime, various groups took to the streets in support of Ghising on Wednesday afternoon.

While opposition parties have been demanding the prime minister’s clarification on the matter, Oli, addressing a programme in Kathmandu on Wednesday, has urged them not to exaggerate the issue, describing the dismissal of a government employee as a routine administrative activity carried out within the government’s jurisdiction.