SC asks govt why ex-justice was named NPC chair

KATHMANDU, Feb 12: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday issued a show cause notice against the government´s recent decision to appoint former justice of the apex court Awadhesh Kumar Yadav as chairman of the Nepal Press Council (NPC).



A single bench of Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi ordered the government to justify the appointment of the NPC head. [break]



Advocate Dayaram Humagain and Bishnu Bhakta Khatri on January 30 moved the SC, arguing that the government decision to appoint Yadav was in contravention of the Interim Constitution.



The petitioners had urged the apex court to annul the government´s decision. They also demanded scrapping of the provision in the Press Council Act 1992 concerning appointment of the PCN chairman, arguing that the provision was in contravention of Article 106 (1) of the Interim Constitution.



The government on January 25 appointed Yadav as PCN chairman for a four-year term.



Article 106 (1) of the Interim Constitution states that no incumbent or former chief justice or justice of the Supreme Court shall be engaged in or deputed to any assignment other than that of a judge or chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.



The appointment of Yadav is being criticized by legal experts and journalists because of a ruling issued by him concerning insurgency related cases. Yadav had ruled that the regular judicial system cannot decide cases related to the insurgency.

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