Kathmandu. The Supreme Court (SC) has annulled Maheshwor Bhakta Shrestha as the chairman of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).

A division bench of Justices Sunil Kumar Pokharel and Bal Krishna Dhakal issued the verdict on the writ petition filed against Shrestha’s appointment.

The government had appointed Shrestha as the chairman against the law. With this order of the Supreme Court, the way has been opened for the appointment of a new chairman in the corporation. Although the Supreme Court annulled the appointment of Chairman Shrestha, he will continue to be a member of the Board of Directors.

A writ petition had been filed at the apex court on July 14 naming five persons including the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretariat as defendants.

Petitioner Karki had claimed that the decision of the Government of Nepal recommending the appointment of a member of the board of directors of the corporation as the executive chief and general manager was against Clause 4 and 6 of the Nepal Airlines Corporation Act, 2019, the criteria related to the appointment of office-bearers of the public bodies associated with the Ministry of Tourism, 2073 BS and the working procedure related to the selection of the general manager of the corporation, 2082.

He claimed that the recommendation made to a person who has crossed the age of 65 years and retired from the corporation was illegal and unconstitutional.