The Patan High Court on Friday issued an interim order against Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s seven-day ultimatum to remove structures built illegally by encroaching on public land.

Hearing a case filed on Thursday, a single bench of Judge Dhir Bahadur Chand ordered KMC to step back from its decision to demolish illegally built structures, until the next order, said Raju Prasad Chapagain, the plaintiff’s attorney.

On March 25, KMC had issued a notice ordering that the structures built illegally by encroaching on public land be removed within a week’s deadline.

Through the notice, the KMC also warned of charging the cost incurred during the demolition drive from the concerned individuals or organisations if they fail to comply with the KMC instruction.

Agitated locals, who would be affected by the metropolis’ decision, along with the Nepal Mahila Ekta Samaj had filed a writ petition at the Patan High Court on Thursday.

The petitioners had named KMC, the National Land Commission, the High Powered Committee for Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilisation, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers as defendants, among others, in the petition.