NBA demands prompt appointment of Chief Justice

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Bar Association has given the government a 10-day ultimatum to appoint the Chief Justice.

Holding a press conference on Wednesday at the premises, the Nepal Bar has warned that if the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is not appointed within 10 days, the Nepal Bar will go on protest.

Speaking at the press conference, the Chair of Nepal Bar Association, Gopal Krishna Ghimire, said that the post of Chief Justice has been lying vacant for long and multiple posts of judges are vacant at the high and districts courts,” he said, seeking the appointment of the CJ within the given time.

He stated that they will protest if the Supreme Court does not handle the processes by applying the automation system. He charged the executive and legislature with defrauding the courts, especially the Supreme Court. He also ordered that a list of the campaigns to rid the judiciary of distortions, contradictions, and corruption be provided.

He said, ‘We have now almost reached the stage of movement. We look at 7 to 10 days. Now, if the problem is not resolved between 7 to 10 days, if no awareness is shown about it, I would also like to say to the Supreme Court, if attention is not paid to manage court proceedings by implementing a fully automated system, automation, the Nepal Bar Association will take a proper decision. Our main issue today is regarding the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. If the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is not permanent, then we understand that this is a situation where the executive and the legislature have cheated the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court. Our first demand is to get the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal immediately. We want a list of the campaign to free the judiciary from distortions, inconsistencies, and corruption. We are interested in whether the judicial mediators have been freed. We did not get the answer from anywhere. Parliamentarians do not have to say anything on the question of the impeachment of the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, there is no legislature, political party or executive branch in Nepal.’

Hari Shankar Niraula, Chair of the Supreme Court Bar Association, asked in a press conference that the Chief Justice be appointed quickly in accordance with the law. He stated that the Supreme Court’s failure to appoint a Chief Justice is not a healthy omen for the judiciary.

‘Now the Supreme Court is operating under the authority of Chief Justice KMC,’ he said. It’s been almost a year now. According to the legislation, this should be done as soon as feasible. The lack of this appointment does not bode well for the entire judiciary. The Nepalese government should pay close attention to this. The judiciary’s perversion, contradiction, and corruption must end.’

He demanded that the impeachment proceedings against former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana be concluded as quickly as possible.