KATHMANDU: Senior advocate and former President of Nepal Bar Association Chandeshwar Shrestha has said that the suspended Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana could not return to work in the Supreme Court (SC) until his impeachment is finalized by the House of Representatives (HoR).

Shrestha along with other legal professionals reached the main gate of the SC on Sunday morning to prevent CJ Rana, who was planning to resume work from today, from entering SC premises.

“Rana, who is the main accused, cannot return to SC until the House of Representatives decides on the indictment according to the constitution and law,” he argued.

He added Article 101 (6) of the Constitution clearly provisioned that suspended CJ could not return to SC after the impeachment proceedings were initiated till the matter is settled.

“According to the constitution and the law, the accused could not resume work after the prosecution begins till the time the case is settled. Until the discussion on the indictment will not be finalized, the constitution has said the accused will not be able to work,” he said.

Senior Advocate Shrestha said that the new House of Representatives would decide on the investigation report of the impeachment against Rana submitted to the Parliament by the HoR’s Impeachment Recommendation Committee.

He added that the legal professionals would continue the struggle against judiciary’s corruption, inconsistency and corruption.