JC, the only constitutional body authorized to take up and investigate corruption charges against judges, has said two of its members--Upendra Keshari Neupane and Khem Narayan Dhungana-- have been probing judges allegedly involved in corruption and misconduct. [break]
Following a number of tip-offs lodged at the JC office, Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi, who is also chairman of JC, had decided to probe complaints through two JC members. Regmi gave this responsibility to the two members at a meeting held last week. The JC comprises five members. Keshari and Dhungana have been mandated to submit initial reports at a JC meeting after completing preliminary investigations.
"Hundred and twenty-five judges are under investigation by us,” admitted JC Secretary Jeevan Hari Adhikary, adding, “Two members of the JC are currently busy studying the rulings issued by judges who have allegedly indulged in corruption or misconduct."
According to him, the JC members have been asking various district and appellate courts and officials at such courts to furnish the texts of verdicts or rulings issued by judges facing the complaints.
"Two JC members have already dispatched letters to district and appellate courts asking them to furnish details of decisions in which misconduct by the judges was allegedly involved," Adhikary added.
A knowledgeable source at the JC said that out of the 125 judges, 60 percent belong to district courts and the rest to appellate courts. The JC is not investigating any Supreme Court (SC) justice at present as it has not received any complaints against them.
JC Secretary Adhikary said they began investigations against the 125 judges on the basis of complaints from various sources. The complaints have been lodged by victims, plaintiffs and defendants, relatives and friends of justice seekers, lawyers and others.
The judges have come under three kinds of charges. First, they are charged with involvement in taking bribes while reaching court decisions and verdicts. Secondly, they are accused of inefficiency. And thirdly, they are charged with misconduct.
Another high ranking JC source disclosed that out of the total number of judges under the scanner, most are charged with alleged involvement in misconduct and bribe-taking.
As per constitutional provisions and the JC Act, judges found guilty of corruption and misconduct face mainly three kinds of punishment.
The law says that convicted judges will be dismissed from their positions. Secondly, such judges will be suspended and the JC will file a chargesheet against them at the appellate court. And thirdly, the JC will alert the judges to abide by the norms, ethics and legal provisions while conducting their respective duties.
There are previous instances of SC, appellate court and district court judges being dismissed from their positions following the findings of such investigations.
Only a year back, the JC punished half a dozen incumbent judges on charges of misconduct. The JC had recommended to parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court (SC) Justice Rana Bahadur Bam but the recommendation has fallen into limbo.
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