Tl Nepal demands probe into wealth of Chief Justice, SC judges

KATHMANDU: Transparency International (TI) Nepal has called for an investigation into the wealth of the Chief Justice and Supreme Court judges.

Issuing a press release on Monday, TI Nepal Chairperson Padmini Pradhananga said the organization’s attention was drawn to the problems seen in the Supreme Court. The statement said, “The problems arising due to the controversy related to Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana has seriously affected the regular functioning of the apex court and raised questions about public faith in the judiciary.”

Noting that study reports submitted by the Supreme Court and the Nepal Bar to TI Nepal on various ocassions about anomalies in the judiciary highlighted the problems such as slow work performance, influenced decisions, abuse of power, use of intermediaries and corruption, the organization called for the need of reform in the court.

“News being published regarding the Chief Justice seeking a share in appointments, SC judges boycotting CJ-scheduled benches, Nepal Bar Association demanding CJ’s resignation were matters of grave concern,” the statement read.

TI Nepal demanded investigation on all issues splashed on media. “We are of the view that all the issues surfaced should be investigated and the guilty must be penalized. To simplify this, the wealth of all persons related to judiciary, including CJ, SC justices and others, should be investigated.”

The organization also appealed all stakeholders to ensure administration of justice during the crisis and called for prompt resolution of the problem.