KATHMANDU, Nov 28: The Supreme Court judges are divided over the sacking of District Judge Chidra Dev Joshi by then King Gyanendra upon recommendation of the Judicial Council in 2005.
As the case was presented before the division bench of Justices Ram Kumar Prasad Sah and Bharat Raj Upreti on Sunday, Sah held the view that the sacking was not lawful while the latter upheld the decision of the Judicial Council. [break]
Joshi was accused of, among other things, speaking against then royal regime at a public function.
As his sacking was partially a politically-motivated move, he was appointed a member of the administrative court following fall of the king´s direct rule in 2006.
As the bench could not reach a unanimous decision, the case has been referred to a special bench.