KATHMANDU: All the Supreme Court Justices have stood united against Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana after he allegedly asked for share in the ministerial portfolios and other constitutional bodies.

The number of SC Justices against Chief Justice Rana have reached 19 after Justice Tej Bahadur KC, who had been on Dashain vacation also expressed solidarity with the majority of the Justices. There are a total of 20 Justices including the Chief Justice in the apex court.

They have been boycotting the assigned benches stating that they will not attend the bench unless the Chief Justice resigns.

They boycotted the assigned benches on Tuesday and Wednesday and all benches assigned for Thursday were adjourned to mourn the passing of a former Justice.

Disgruntled Justices have said they will hold an internal meeting to chalk out a future strategy against the Chief Justice on Friday.

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, and now Tej Bahadur KC, are in favor of Rana’s resignation.

There have been voices arising from all quarters that Chief Justice should step down on moral ground.

Nepal Bar Association has already said that it will launch stringent protests in both inside and outside the court if Rana does not step down.

The Association is also holding a meeting on Friday.