Amid looming threat of leadership vacuum in the law enforcement agency, the government on Monday decided to appoint Additional Inspector General Dinesh Chandra Pokhrel as the officiating chief of Nepal Police.

AIG Pokhrel’s appointment as the officiating chief of police was made on Monday evening after Sunday’s the government decision to appoint DIG Jaya Bahadur Chand as the inspector general was stayed by the Supreme Court the same day.

IG Upendra Kant Aryal is retiring on Tuesday.

Pokhrel, a medical doctor, is the director of Nepal Police Hospital.

Confirming the Cabinet decision, Chief Secretary Som Lal Subedi said, “Pokhrel will lead the security force until the new IG assumes office.”

Though the government on Sunday picked DIG Chand to lead Nepal Police, DIG Nawaraj Silwal, another contender for the post, moved the court, challenging the government decision. The apex court on Monday issued a second stay order, asking the government not to implement its earlier decision.

The Cabinet on Monday amended the Nepal Police Regulations to pave the way for AIG Pokharel’s appointment as the officiating chief of police, according to a minister.

“Since Pokhrel comes from technical background (medicine), we had to amend the regulations, and this amendment is applicable for one time,” the minister added.

During Monday’s Cabinet meeting, called late in the day, some ministers had expressed concern whether the decision to amend the Nepal Police Regulations to appoint someone from the technical background to lead the security agency would be challenged in court.

But Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is learnt to have dismissed the concerns, saying “all necessary procedures were followed before amending the regulations”.