KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court Unit of the Nepal Bar Association (SC Bar) has urged the government not to distribute honorary titles and decorations to influence judges.

Issuing a statement on Monday, SC Bar also suggested that judges should be serious about taking honors provided to them at the recommendation of the executives.

“Judges working in the judiciary should be aware not to create an environment where any medal or award has an undue effect while administering justice. The Bar urges the Government of Nepal not to recommend and declare such honorary titles,” the Bar said, adding, “Since such recognition can grow skepticism of the public towards the judiciary.”

On the occasion of the Constitution Day, many justices including Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana, and Justices Bishwambhar Shrestha, Sapana Pradhan Malla, Anil Kumar Sinha and Tej Bahadur KC were honored with various medals and titles.

CJ Rana was awarded the Mahaujjwal Medal, whereas Justice Shrestha got Ujjwal Kirtimaya Rashtradeep. Similarly, Justices Malla, Sinha and KC bagged Prasiddha Prabal Janasewa Shri medal.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and leader Subash Chandra Nembang, in a program organized on the Constitution Day, had criticized the government for giving medals to the justices alleging that the government awarded the judges who overturned the then Prime Minister Oli’s dissolution of the House of Representatives twice.