KATHMANDU: Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut has clarified that there is no dispute or disagreement regarding the formation of the Constitutional Bench at the Supreme Court.
The newly formed bench includes Chief Justice Raut along with senior-most justices Sapana Pradhan Malla, Dr. Nahkul Subedi, Til Prasad Shrestha, and Binod Sharma.
Raut said he exercised his constitutional authority to appoint four justices to the bench, as guaranteed under Article 137 of the Constitution, which mandates the formation of a Constitutional Bench at the Supreme Court comprising the Chief Justice and four other justices nominated on the recommendation of the Judicial Council.
“There was never any dispute over the formation of the Constitutional Bench. It could not be reconstituted earlier only due to urgent matters such as appointments and transfers of judges,” Chief Justice Raut told reporters. “The Constitution has clearly entrusted the Chief Justice with this authority, and I have exercised it accordingly.”
He also noted that misconceptions had been spread regarding the process and stressed that the Constitutional Bench was being strengthened in line with principles of dignity, transparency, and accountability of the judiciary.
Although the Full Court meeting had discussed managing the work of the Constitutional Bench as part of its annual plan, Raut said there had never been any conflict on the matter.
The Constitutional Bench, which had been on hold for some time, resumed hearings today. Currently, 228 cases are pending before it.
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