KATHMANDU, June 9: The term of 26 ad-hoc judges at the appellate courts will expire Tuesday if the meeting of the Judicial Council is not held by Tuesday evening to decide whether to extend their terms or appoint them as permanent judges.
Altogether 27 ad-hoc judges were appointed at various appellate courts on June 9, 2011 but Judge Rameshwar Man Amatya already retired from the position due to age limit. The JC had renewed the terms of the remaining 26 last year for another year.
The ad-hoc judges on Sunday met with the chief justice and expressed their concerns over the indecision.
As the council chairman, Chief Justice Ram Kumar Prasad Shah, and Minister for Law and Justice Narahari Acharya, during the council's meeting last week disputed over appointing permanent justices at the Supreme Court, the meeting could not discuss the fate of the 26 appellate court judges.
As Ram Prasad Sitaula, the member of the council appointed on the recommendation of Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on Sunday took the oath of office on Monday, there is a chance of the Judicial Council meeting on Tuesday. The tenure of Judicial Council Member Khem Narayan Dhungana, who was recommended by the then prime minister Jhalanath Khanal, had ended on May 30. Member Upendra Keshari Neupane, who was recommended by Nepal Bar Association, had also resigned a few months ago.
Meanwhile, Nepal Bar Association (NBA), the umbrella organization of lawyers across the country, has urged the Judicial Council to take necessary decision regarding the 26 ad-hoc judges immediately.
NBA General Secretary Sunil Kumar Pokharel issued a press statement Monday and stated that if the term of the 26 judges expires on the same day, service delivery by the appellate courts will be badly affected.
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