KATHMANDU, March 19: The Supreme Court (SC) issued an interim order on Monday, directing the inclusion of the Master's in Police Science (MPS) program in Nepal Police and the establishment of provisions for promotion and quota allocation based on it in the law.
Justices Kumar Chudal and Mahesh Sharma Paudel issued the order, instructing authorities to incorporate the provision for promotion points and quota allocation through MPS into the law.
The court also directed authorities to refrain from determining the proposed promotion percentage and awarding promotion points until the law includes the provision.
The order states, "Determining the promotion percentage and promotion points for police officers who participate in and pass the program are fundamental issues, and these must be established through the service law. Therefore, until this provision is included in the service-related law, the SC has instructed authorities not to determine the proposed promotion percentage or provide promotion points according to the action plan."
The SC further stated that halting the MPS program is not appropriate.
The SC explained that the program has been operating since 2050 BS, with expert committees forming to make police officers knowledgeable and skilled, and engaging them in professional development through necessary studies, so it cannot be halted.
After the Nepal Police implemented the MPS program, DSP Ripendra Kumar and others filed a writ petition in the SC, naming the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Police Headquarters as defendants.
They argued that including MPS for promotion eligibility, allocating quotas, and giving priority were illegal and beyond jurisdiction, and that implementing the program would affect professional development and cause irreparable harm. They requested an interim order to prevent its implementation until the court makes a final decision on the case.
The implementation plan for the MPS program, 2081 BS, the Police Leadership and Staff Course Operational Procedure 2081 BS, the directive regarding the entrance examination for the Police Leadership and Staff Course 2081 BS, and the notice for filling out the enrollment form were all issued on February 3.
The police had planned to implement the MPS for officers who have joined the service since 2070 BS.