Apex court stays government’s decision to suspend study permits for South Korea

KATHMANDU, MAY 28: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order directing the government not to implement its decision to suspend the issuance of study permits (No Objection Certificates - NOCs) for students planning to study in South Korea.

The order was issued yesterday by a single bench of Justice Sunil Pokharel, in response to a writ petition filed by student Eliza Pandey and others, with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology named as the respondent.

According to the apex court, the government's decision made on May 11, 2025—and the subsequent notice published on May 13, 2025, should not be enforced. The order noted that the decision was made without considering that the academic session had already begun, and emphasized that suspending study permits at this stage could cause irreparable harm to students who have already completed the necessary procedures and secured scholarships.

The Court has asked the ministry to submit a written response with justifications within 15 days. The interim order will remain in effect until a final verdict is reached in the case.