The Court issued stay order on Friday to halt Anfa election procedure responding to a writ petition filed by referee committee’s Binod KC and the football governing body’s former general secretary Lok Bahadur Shahi.

The duo had filed the writ claiming that the October 24 election was illegitimate. The court also summoned five defendants, including Sports Minister Daljit Shripali, National Sports Council Member Secretary Keshav Bista and Anfa, on  Oct 21. Anfa spokesperson and CEO Indra Man Tuladhar said they are yet to get official information on the court order.

Anfa, which is electing a new leader through the general assembly, is currently gripped by election fever with current acting president Narendra Shrestha and vice-president Karma Tshiring Sherpa fighting for the top post. Regional football governing body Asian Football Confederation had directed Anfa to hold elections for new president after Fifa slapped a 10-year ban on disgraced former president Ganesh Thapa for bribery and corruption.

Shrestha has been holding the post in the interim. The general assembly will also elect a new vice-president to fill the vacancy following the demise of Lalit Krishna Shrestha, who had died over a year ago. Former national team goalkeeper Upendra Man Singh, ex-central committee member Dipak Khati and Mani Kunwar have filed candidacy for the position of vice-president.