Contempt of Court Looms as PM’s Office Re-issues Ambassador Recall Order

The political and legal landscape in Nepal has been dominated by a dramatic conflict between the executive and judicial branches over the recall of Nepali ambassadors. Despite an explicit interim order from the Supreme Court (SC) halting the decision, the government, led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki, re-issued the directive to recall 11 Nepali ambassadors from key global postings.

The controversial Cabinet decision, which targeted most of the envoys appointed by the previous KP Sharma Oli administration, was challenged in the SC. The petitioners argued that a caretaker government—formed with the limited mandate of conducting impending elections—lacked the constitutional authority to make decisions with such significant and long-term diplomatic consequences. The SC’s interim order agreed, questioning the necessity of the selective recall and the potential negative impact on Nepal’s foreign relations.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) confirmed receiving correspondence to proceed with the recall, instructing the envoys—stationed in countries including China, the USA, and the UK—to report back to the Ministry. This latest move, which appears to defy the judicial directive, has sparked intense debate on the balance of executive authority and judicial oversight in foreign policy, with the prospect of a formal contempt of court case now looming over the Prime Minister and her administration.