After meeting with CJ Rana, SC judges engage in discussion

KATHMANDU: Soon after urging Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana to step down, Supreme Court (SC) judges have engaged in a group discussion.

Earlier, 15 SC judges in a brief meeting with Chief Justice Rana Tuesday morning, had urged the latter to step down to ease the tension the judiciary has been facing lately.

The judges, who boycotted the bench appointed by the Chief Justice on Monday, held a group discussion and met Rana on Tuesday.

The judges, who preferred to boycott the meeting of the Full Court called by the Chief Justice on Monday, urged CJ Rana to resign.

The judges had reached CJ Rana’s chamber seeking the latter’s facilitation in easing the tension the judiciary has been facing lately.

According to sources, SC judges including senior judge Deepak Kumar Karki had reached the chamber of the Chief Justice saying that they would form a collective opinion to help the judiciary overcome the crisis.

While Chief Justice Rana is in controversy, many parties are demanding his resignation. On the other hand, Chief Justice Rana has shown no sign to resign, rather he has allotted eight benches to 15 judges on Tuesday.

There are seven division benches and Nahakul Subedi has been allotted a single bench.

Chief Justice Rana had fixed 216 cases for hearing in the eight benches on Monday. However, 13 judges had revolted against the Chief Justice and boycotted the bench on Monday demanding Chief Justice Rana should answer questions raised against him.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Advisory Council of the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) is also being held today.

The NBA is also preparing to demand the resignation of Chief Justice Rana, sources said.

The Supreme Court Bar Association has already demanded Rana’s resignation on Monday.

Likewise, four former Chief Justices also issued a joint statement on Monday demanding Rana’s resignation.

Former Chief Justices Kalyan Shrestha, Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Anupraj Sharma, and Sushila Karki have demanded the resignation of CJ Rana saying that he was responsible for the current crisis in the court.