Last Updated on August 14, 2026
Summary✨
- The Supreme Court issued an interim order preventing the Nepal government from publicizing the Ncell share investigation report.
- Ncell Axiata Limited filed a petition against the report’s public release, which contains sensitive operational information.
- The court emphasized that releasing the report could violate privacy rights outlined in the Constitution and various laws.
- The government had already made the report public through the communication ministry before the court’s decision.
- The investigation pertains to Axiata’s sale of 80% of Ncell’s equity shares to Spectrlite UK Ltd.
The Supreme Court has given an interim order directing the Nepal government not to implement its decision to make public the report submitted by the committee formed to study and investigate the sale and purchase of Ncell shares. A single bench of Justice Bal Krishna Dhakal, hearing a writ petition on Friday August 14, 2026, filed by Ncell Axiata Limited on Friday, issued the decision against the government’s decision even though the report has already been made public.
In its decision, the court told the government not to publicize the report but maintain its status quo.
The communication ministry published the investigation report on its website on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. In response, Ncell strongly condemned the publicizing of the share sale transaction report, which was prepared under the coordination of Tankamani Sharma Dangal.
Supreme Court issues order on Ncell share sale transaction investigation report
The court has stated that the investigation report contains sensitive information of the company’s operations. The report was submitted to the government on January 29, 2024.
It mentions that the report contains details about individuals’ investments in the company, operational procedures, and certain commercial confidential information. The court reasons that making the report public would risk violating the right to privacy provided for in Article 28 of the Constitution, the Personal Privacy Act 2075, the Income Tax Act, and the Value Added Tax Act.
The court asked the defendants, including the Government of Nepal and the Council of Ministers, “what has happened in this matter?” and “why should the order sought by the petitioner not be issued?” The SC has directed them to submit a written response through the Office of the Attorney General within 15 days.
Interesting enough, SC’s decision seems to be in favor of Ncell. However, the government has already brought the report in the public view via the communication ministry.
The investigation report surrounded Axiata’s sale of 80% of equity shares in Ncell to Spectrlite UK Ltd.
