KATHMANDU: Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana, who was left alone after being boycotted by a majority of Supreme Court judges, has been found to be backed by Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Contrary to the opinion of all the judges that Chief Justice Rana should end the stalemate at the court by tendering his resignation, Prime Minister Deuba has supported and is trying to ‘rescue’ Chief Justice Rana.
According to sources, Rana withdrew his resignation after Prime Minister Deuba assured Rana that there would be no impeachment or non-cooperation from the ruling NC, government, and the ruling alliance in this issue.
The distressed Chief Justice is in constant touch with the leaders of the ruling party. Surrounded by one controversy and criticism after another, he has been seeking political protection since Dashain.
Chief Justice Rana tried his last card and held a meeting with PM Deuba this morning.
The source claimed that he has telephoned many people since this morning and asked them to help him as there was no objection at a political level and there was no other way to remove him except through impeachment.
Chief Justice Rana, who had met the former prime minister and leaders of the ruling coalition on the occasion of the Dashain holiday hoping to resolve the crisis, has intensified political meetings in recent days. He met CPN-Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ recently and sought his help.
In the meantime, Chandeshwar Shrestha, the president of the Nepal Bar Association, has been in dilemma on the matter after Prachanda pressured him not to make Chief Justice resign.
Despite top leaders of the ruling party instructing various bodies to protect Rana, the majority of SC judges have already decided to pressurize him to resign as they feel his presence is tarnishing the dignity of the judiciary itself.
On Sunday, 14 of the top judges and all the judges on leave had decided to stand against him. Judges attended another meeting boycotting the ‘full court’ convened by Chief Justice Rana for today.
The ruling coalition is silent despite all the Supreme Court justices’ boycotting the session and politely disobeying the Chief Justice’s bench allocation.
Comment