The Patan High Court has issued an interim order instructing authorities not to enforce the suspension of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Police Chief Rajunath Pandey, allowing him to continue in his position.

A division bench of judges Rishi Raj Bhandari and Dilli Ratna Shrestha issued the order on Wednesday in response to a petition filed by Pandey.

According to court spokesperson Parbati Hitan, the bench ordered the suspension decision to be held in abeyance and Pandey be allowed to carry out his duties as before.

“Keep the status as it is by not implementing the suspension letter and allow the petitioner to continue performing duties in his official capacity,” the order said.

Pandey was suspended for six months on June 3 by the KMC administration after being accused of preventing Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Saroj Guragain from entering the city office—allegedly under verbal instructions from Mayor Balendra Shah.

CAO Guragain sought a seven-point clarification from Pandey following the incident. Although Pandey submitted his explanation on May 26, the administration, deeming it unsatisfactory, issued a suspension under the Municipal Police Act, 2023.

On Tuesday, Pandey filed a writ petition at the Patan High Court challenging the suspension.

The case is part of a wider conflict between Mayor Shah and the federal government over the appointment and authority of CAO Guragain.

Guragain was reinstated by the federal government in April after being suspended by Mayor Shah over alleged procedural and financial irregularities.