The Patan Appellate Court issued an interim order to the government authorities not to remove the settlements of landless squatters along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu until December 11.

A single bench of judge Rajendra Prasad Bhandari issued the interim order Sunday, asking both the parties to the case to attend a hearing on December 11.

The government had warned the landless squatters of forceful evacuation from Tuesday if they refused to comply with the order.

The landless squatters have been carrying out street protests for the last few days against the decision of the High Power Committee for Integrated Bagmati Civilization to remove them.

There are an estimated 12,000 landless squatters in the Kathmandu Valley, especially along Bagmati River. nepalnews.com