KATHMANDU, Aug 3: A meeting of the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee (PHSC) has turned the nomination of Deepak Raj Joshee for the post of chief justice by two-thirds majority of votes on Friday.
Of the total 15 PHSC members, 10 members voted against Joshee while the four members representing main opposition NC boycotted the meeting. Ruling Nepal Communist Party has nine members, Federal Socialist Forum Nepal has 1, NC has four and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal has 1 member in the PHSC.
NCP opted for voting after efforts made to forge consensus could not yield any fruits and the main opposition NC boycotted the meeting.
Emerging from the meeting PHSC member Yogesh Bhattarai gave five reasons based on which ruling NCP turned down Joshee’s name for the post of chief justice.
- Joshee could not submit a clear-cut concept and concrete work-plan for executing his responsibilities once appointed as chief justice.
- PHSC could not find his answers satisfactory about integrity, work efficiency and demeanor when asked during the hearing.
- His credentials were found fishy with differences in his date of birth to which Joshee could not provide supporting documents.
- Former chief justices also pointed out flaws in his public demeanor and past activities. Besides, he could not provide evidences that could contribute to the judiciary of Nepal.
- Joshee could not make impression that the judiciary would be independent, competent and impartial once Joshee is appointed as chief justice.