Since the headquarters failed to confer the insignia till Tuesday, the DIGs are now preparing to move to the apex court again with a court contempt case against the Home Ministry and Police Headquarters.

The Supreme Court on September 24 had directed the government to promote DIGs Yadav Adhikari, Bishwa Raj Shahi, Parshuram Khatri and Sushilwor Singh Thapa to the post of AIG. A joint bench of Justices Dipak Raj Joshi and Om Prakash Mishra pronounced the verdict on two separate writs filed at the apex court challenging the promotion of nine DIGs.  The government on August 14 had promoted nine DIGs to the post of AIG, though Nepal Police envisions only seven AIGs.

The four DIGs shall now go on a voluntary retirement following completion of their five-year tenure. According to Nepal Police rules, the officials go on retirement if they remain as DIG for more than five years. 

The government had promoted nine DIGs-Rajendra Singh Bhandari, Surendra Bahadur Shah, Bigyan Raj Sharma, Pratap Singh Thapa, Birendra Babu Shrestha, Ram Shekhar Bajracharya, Kedar Prasad Saud, Ganesh Rai and Narayan Bastakoti–to the post of AIG.

DIG Yadav Adhikari had filed a writ petition at the apex court on August 15, arguing that the Nepal Police regulation does not envision nine AIG posts. Three more deputy inspector generals (DIGs) of Nepal Police—Bishwo Raj Shahi, Sushil Barsingh Thapa and Parshuram Khatri— moved the Supreme Court against the government decision to promote nine DIGs to the post of additional inspector general (AIG), seeking court intervention in the decision.

Advocate Lila Mani Poudel who is defending the case on behalf of DIGs said they will wait for two or three more days before the AIG insignia is conferred to the police officials. He said if the government remains adamant that they will file contempt of court case.

“The police officials have already been promoted to AIGs by Supreme Court. They will work in status of AIGs and present themselves at headquarters from Wednesday,” said Poudel.

Spokesperson of Ministry of Home Affairs Laxmi Dhakal said government may also seek review of the decision. He said a further decision on the issue will be taken on Wednesday after office resumes.