The Supreme Court on Sunday issued an order directing the government not to remove Balkrishna Basnet from the post of Chairman of Press Council Nepal, giving continuity to the short-term order issued four months ago.

A joint bench of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Hari Phuyal directed the government not to proceed with the process of clarification asked with an objective to remove Chairman Basnet.

Saying that the government tried to remove Basnet without legal basis, advocates Ananta Raj Luintel, Bikash Bhattarai, Bishal Kumar Upadhyay and Prathiva Uprety during the hearing held today demanded an interim order to thwart the government's preparations.

Earlier on March 3, a single bench of Justice Tej Bahadur KC issued a short-term order not to remove Basnet.

Basnet had moved the apex court arguing that the Council of Ministers asked for clarification with an intention to remove him.

Basnet, who is also the advocate, was appointed by the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government for four years.