According to the source, Chief Justice and Chairman of JC Ram Prasad Shrestha has agreed to form another probe committee after JC members differed over the implementation of a report submitted by a probe committee headed by SC Justice Bal Ram KC. [break]
A meeting of the JC scheduled for Friday is likely to take a decision to this effect.
“Initially CJ was not convinced about forming another committee,” said a source adding, “He, however, has changed his stance following massive pressure from various quarters.”
The source also informed that the new probe panel would be given a very short deadline to investigate into the allegations and complete and submit its report.
“CJ wants Justice Bam and Basnet to face action before he retires,” the source said, adding, “He, therefore, wants the new probe panel to submit its report at the earliest.” CJ Shrestha is retiring in six months.
Asked about the new probe committee, CJ Shrestha, asked Republica to wait and see till Friday. “You can imagine the pressure I have been through. I don´t want to comment about it now and ask you to wait and see till Friday.”
Minister for Law and Justice Prem Bahadur Singh, some justices and officials of SC, judges from various Appellate and district courts, lawyers and leaders of various political parties have been trying to convince CJ Shrestha to halt the investigation, especially against Justice Bam, the source added.
All those who tried to convince CJ Shrestha termed the KC-led committee report as “biased” citing that single SC justice cannot investigate into allegations against another SC justice.
Law Minister Singh has publicly criticized the report prepared by SC Justice.
KC-led high level probe committee has accused Justice Bam and Judges Basnet and Tej Bahadur Karki of releasing Sanjay Shrestha, Rohit Paliwan Agrawal and Bhimsen Pandit, who have been accused of murder, extortion and arms possession, on low bail.
CJ instructs new judges
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Shrestha at a function on Wednesday administered oath of office to the newly appointed SC justices and chief judges of various appellate courts.
“We have long been receiving complaints of corruption in the judiciary. I expect you all to work toward maintaining a clean image of judiciary and delivering speedy justice,” instructed the newly appointed SC and Appellate Courts justices.
SC justices Baidyanath Upadhaya, Tarkaraj Bhatta, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Bharat Bahadur Karki, Kamal Narayan Das and appellate courts chief judges Bishowanth Joshi, Gopal Parajuli, Dipakraj Joshi, Durga Uprety, Govinda Kumar Nepal and Keshav Bahadur Mainali took oath of office on Wednesday.
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