Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interim order not to immediately appoint the General Manager of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC). The apex court issued the order in response to a writ petition filed by Chiranjivi Upadhyay claiming that the election code of conduct has already come into force.

A single bench of Justice Binod Sharma directed the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to stop the process.

The selection committee led by the secretary of the Tourism Ministry had shortlisted 10 candidates for the appointment through open competition on January 18. The committee has already interviewed and presented the candidates on Wednesday and Thursday. As per the procedure, the names of three members will be selected and recommended to the Council of Ministers.

Senior Captain Dipu Jwarchan, Customer Service Department Chief Tankanidhi Dahal, Upendra Bahadur Karki and Dr. Madhav Kumar Shrestha are among the shortlisted candidates. Dr. Deepak Prasad Bastola, MD Bhim Bahadur Chand, Yograj Kandel, Bishnu Babu Mishra, Bed Prasad Upreti, Sanjay Kumar Singh and Santosh Kumar Basnet.