KATHMANDU: Former Judges Forum has urged political parties to impeach Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana.

The call to impeach the chief justice comes at a time when the Nepal Bar Association and SC judges have been protesting against CJ Rana, calling on him to resign.

At a press meet held in Kathmandu Monday, the Former Judges Forum said, ” There is adequate basis for imepachment of the CJ … for speaking publicly against the order concerning Ranjan Koirala, violating judges’ code of conduct and based on 15 points presented in the statement issued by Former Judges Forum. Therefore, we call on political parties, government and parliamentarians to impeach the CJ to maintain ordinary people’s the faith in the judiciary, constitution and democracy.”

The Former Jugdes Forum termed CJ Rana’s inviation for dialogue as an attempt to hide deviations and corruption within the judiciary. “The letter calling for dialogue issued by CJ Rana is not in the interest of the judiciary as it is an attempt to hide one’s wrongdoing,” read a statement issued by Former Judges Forum Chairman Top Bahadur Singh, who is also a former Supreme Court justice.

The Judges Forum expressed solidarity with the struggle continued by the Nepal Bar Association and Supreme Court judges.

Stating that only CJ Rana’s resignation would not suffice, Judges Forum Chair Singh said the constitutional provision regarding appointment of Chief Justice should also be corrected. He added that as the CJ Rana had already proved unqualified, political parties should impeach him if he did not resign.