The Supreme Court on Monday issued an interim order to maintain the status quo regarding the recent appointment of Madhesh Province Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav, observing that the process appeared to be prima facie unconstitutional.

Hearing on a writ petition filed against the new chief minister’s appointment, a single bench of Justice Tek Prasad Dhungana issued the order, preventing Yadav—who was appointed and sworn in at a hotel in Bardibas—from carrying out his official duties until the final verdict.

The court stated that the appointment decision by Province Head Sumitra Subedi Bhandari raised serious constitutional questions that must be clarified before any irreversible actions are taken.

The order further instructed that no long-term decisions affecting the province be made until the court delivers a final ruling on the writ petition.

Earlier on Tuesday, 74 provincial assembly members, excluding those from the CPN-UML, filed a separate petition challenging the formation of the Madhesh government, arguing that it violated constitutional provisions. The hearing for that petition is scheduled for Wednesday.

Yadav’s controversial appointment under Article 168(3) had already sparked political uproar after Province Head Bhandari administered his oath of office at a Bardibas hotel early Monday morning, bypassing coalition negotiations under Article 168(2).