SC rejects interim order to annul 30-year service term in APF; 16 officials, including DIG, set to retire

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has refused to issue an interim order to annul the 30-year service term in the Armed Police Force (APF).

The decision was made during a hearing on Tuesday regarding a writ petition filed by 12 APF officials, including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Durga Prasad Bhattarai.

A bench led by Judge Sharanga Subedi denied the request for an interim order but issued a show cause order against the defendants.

The officials, who are scheduled to retire on Bhadra 16 due to the service term limitations, had filed the petition demanding the annulment of the 30-year service term.

With the court’s refusal to issue an interim order, these officials are now set to retire.

The petitioners include DIG Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bishwa Kumar Bhattarai, Superintendent of Police (SP) Purna Bahadur Saud, SP Tribhuvan Bista, SP Ammar Bahadur Ahir, SP Dhan Bahadur Singh, SP Uddav Bahadur Rawal, SP Ashok Kumar Shakya, SP Prem Bahadur Rawal, SP Gopal Prasad Shrestha, and SP Dipendra Giri.

Along with these officials, four others will also be retiring.

Previously, in response to a similar petition filed by Nepal Police officials, the Supreme Court issued an interim order removing the 30-year service term limitation for Nepal Police personnel.

A bench led by Judge Hari Phuyal had suspended the enforcement of the policy, directing that retirement letters be put on hold, allowing the affected police personnel to continue their duties.