The Sushila Karki-led government has issued letters instructing the ambassadors, who were previously recalled, to report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Kartik 20.
Earlier, the government had decided to recall several ambassadors; however, the Supreme Court had issued an interim order preventing the implementation of that decision.
Following the Supreme Court’s directive, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who is also currently handling the portfolio of Foreign Minister, has instructed those ambassadors to report to the ministry.
According to Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, letters have been sent directing the ambassadors to return and resume official duties by Kartik 20.
The Cabinet meeting on Ashoj 30 had previously directed 11 ambassadors to return to Nepal by Kartik 20.
However, a bench of Justices Sharanga Subedi and Shrikant Paudel at the Supreme Court issued an interim order, instructing the government not to implement the recall decision immediately. The court also remarked that recalling only 11 ambassadors out of 17—all appointed at the same time—lacked sufficient justification and rationale.
According to the Ambassador Appointment Directive, the tenure of an ambassador is four years from the date of assuming office. Nonetheless, the Nepal government has the authority to recall an ambassador before the completion of the term if deemed necessary.
The ambassadors were appointed on Shrawan 14, 2081 BS, following the Cabinet’s recommendation for 17 countries.
The recall decision applied to ambassadors assigned to China, Germany, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan.
Ambassadors posted to Australia, India, Denmark, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and South Africa, however, remain unchanged.
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