KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML has objected to what it called an unnecessarily rushed parliamentary hearing process for proposed Chief Justice Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma.
Speaking at a meeting of the Parliamentary Hearing Committee at Singha Durbar on Tuesday, UML lawmaker Padma Aryal alleged that the hearing process lacked transparency and that lawmakers were not given adequate time to study the complaints filed against Sharma.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the schedule, Aryal said she had expected only the distribution of complaints during Tuesday’s meeting, followed by discussions and hearings on another day after lawmakers had sufficient time to review the documents.
“Instead, everything — opening the complaints, discussing them and conducting the hearing — was brought into a single day. What was the need for such haste?” she questioned.
Aryal stressed that the concerns raised by complainants should be heard seriously and that lawmakers needed adequate time to examine the issues.
“Such rushed and opaque decisions raise questions over the dignity of the committee itself,” she added.
Amid controversy and disagreements, the committee opened and distributed the complaints filed against Sharma to lawmakers during the meeting.
According to the committee secretariat, a total of 16 complaints have been registered against Sharma, including 11 submitted via email and five in written form.
Lawmakers were also provided copies of Sharma’s proposed work plan for review.
The UML objected after the committee prepared to move ahead with the process following a brief discussion on the complaints and work plan on the same day.
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