KATHMANDU: The dispute between Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana and Supreme Court (SC) judges has not made any headway as both sides preferred to stick to their respective positions.
CJ Rana rejected outright the 15 SC judges’ idea of stepping down “to ease the tension the judiciary” has been facing lately saying he would not resign coming under pressure and influence of anybody.
Stating that he has become the Chief Justice as per the constitutional provision, Rana said that he would not be ready to resign at any cost.
SC justices have demanded Chief Justice Rana’s resignation. However, Rana has said that he is ready to face impeachment rather than to step down.
A source said that the SC judges are adamant that the current leadership cannot lead the judiciary, and that they would continue to seek CJ Rana’s resignation.
The SC judges Deepak Kumar Karki, Meera Khadka, Harikrishna Karki, Bishwambhar Shrestha, Dr. Anand Mohan Bhattarai, Prakash Man Singh Raut, Bamkumar Shrestha, Tanka Bahadur Moktan, Prakash Kumar Dhungana, Sushmalata Mathema, Kumar Regmi, Hari Prasad Phuyal, Manoj Kumar Sharma, Kumar Chudal and Nahakul Subedi, who boycotted the session and engaged in a group discussion, met Chief Justice Rana on Tuesday and demanded his resignation.
According to the source, “The judges put forth a lot of questions to CJ Rana, and his controversial decisions.”
Chief Justice Rana, meanwhile, said all those judges involved in the “controversial decisions” made earlier have to step down.
The judges had reached CJ Rana’s chamber seeking the latter’s facilitation in easing the tension.
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.
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 Nepal Bar Association has also sought the resignation of CJ Rana.
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.
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