The Supreme Court has issued an interim order against the government’s decision to recall 11 Nepali ambassadors from various countries, halting the implementation of the decision by the Sushila Karki-led administration.

A joint bench of Justices Saranga Subedi and Shreekanta Poudel passed the order on Sunday, concluding the hearing that began on Friday.

The top court concluded that the decision could affect Nepal’s relations with the host countries and questioned the necessity and justification behind recalling only 11 ambassadors among those appointed by the previous government.

With the apex court’s interim order, the recalled envoys will not have to return immediately.

A Cabinet meeting on September 16 had decided to recall Nepali ambassadors to China, Germany, Israel, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan—most of whom were appointed by the KP Sharma Oli administration.

Those recalled include Krishna Prasad Oli (China), Shail Rupakheti (Germany), Dhan Prasad Pandit (Israel), Ramesh Chandra Paudel (Qatar), Jang Bahadur Chauhan (Russia), Naresh Bikram Dhakal (Saudi Arabia), Shanil Nepal (Spain), Chandra Kumar Ghimire (United Kingdom), Lok Darshan Regmi (United States), and Durga Bahadur Subedi (Japan).

Advocates Pratibha Upreti and Anantaraj Luintel had filed a writ petition demanding the annulment of the recall decision, arguing that a caretaker government has no constitutional and political mandate to make decisions with long-term diplomatic consequences.

President Ramchandra Paudel appointed Sushila Karki as prime minister on September 12 with a mandate to conduct parliamentary elections by March 5.

Petitioners contended that recalling and reappointing ambassadors under such a limited mandate was not only inappropriate but also inconsistent with constitutional norms.