Apex court stays Col Basnet's promotion

The Supreme Court on Monday issued a stay order against the government's decision to promote Colonel Raju Basnet to the post of Brigadier General.

SC Assistant spokesperson Hemant Rawal confirmed that a stay order has been issued.

The decision comes as a writ petition was filed at the apex court seeking the court's intervention against the government's decision.

On October 4, the government had promoted Colonel Basnet, who has been implicated in serious human rights abuse cases.

During the conflict period, Basnet was commander of the Maharajgunj-based Bhairabnath Battalion -- from where 49 Maoist detainees had gone missing. All of them are suspected to have been executed.

Several national and international rights bodies, including the Human Rights Alliance, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists and Amnesty International have been opposing Basnet's promotion. nepalnews.com