The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued interim order to put the Nepal Olympic Committee election, which has been scheduled for Friday, on hold.

A single bench of justice Tanka Bahadur Moktan issued the order responding to the writ petition filed by Kamal Bahadur Chitrakar, one of the executive committee members of the NOC which is recognised by the court. The court has called both the sides for further discussion on Sunday.

The current NOC led by Jeevan Ram Shrestha is recognised by the International Olympic Committee and Olympic Council of Asia. But Shrestha led-committee was deemed illegal by the Supreme Court verdict on October 4, 2010, and reinstated former President Rukma Sumsher Rana-led committee. Ever since there has been the so-called duel existence of Nepal Olympic Committees.

Shrestha said: “I have not received any such [court order] official information. The election will go on schedule.” Asked what if he gets the court order on Wednesday, Shrestha said they will study the matter before deciding the course of action.

Shrestha led committee has been coordinating for Nepali teams’ international participation abroad under. It has also been receiving funds from the IOC. The National Sports Council—the sports’ governing body of the country—has also been coordinating with the Shrestha-led committee. The other committee does not have any existence except for in papers and even President Rana of late have agreed to work together with Shrestha-led committee.

There has been the tendency of interrupting election of bodies like NOC and other sports association in Nepali sports. The long-standing dispute had come to a brief halt in July 2015 when the current NOC President Jeevan Ram Shrestha and his predecessor Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan had signed an agreement with Rana to settle the dispute. However, the dispute has reared its ugly head time and again.