The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued an interim stay order to reinstate Ramesh Kumar Silwal, the ousted member secretary of National Sports Council (NSC), at the country's top sports executive body.

The Council of Ministers on October 18 had decided to sack Silwal, appointed for a four-year tenure by the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government in July 2020, picked through open competition. The coalition government relieved Silwal from his duty, alleging him of unsatisfactory performance.

After removing Silwal, the government had appointed Tanka Lal Ghising, Bagmati Province secretariat member of the CPN (Maoist), in the hot seat on November 29.

Silwal had filed a writ petition challenging the decision of the Council of Ministers on November 14. A single bench of justice Hari Prasad Phuyal on Wednesday issued the interim order. The Supreme Court has called both sides for a discussion on December 27.

Silwal will remain in the post until the final hearing if the Supreme Court gives continuity to the interim order. But he would be relieved of his duty if the Supreme Court validates the sacking by the Council of Ministers.