KATHMANDU, Jan 18: Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana has summoned nine judges of various high courts on deputation to the Judicial Council (JC) over suspected deviations in the 33-kg gold smuggling scam.  

Of the total nine judges summoned to JC, five judges of Biratnagar High Court--Nagendra Labh Karna,

Saranga Subedi, Thir Bahaudr Karki, Umesh Kumar Singh and Umesh Raj Paudel— were summoned to the council allegedly for their wrong judgments in course of releasing the accused involved in the gold smuggling scam, according to informed court sources.

Officials however didn’t disclose the names and details of other four judges summoned on deputation. 

“Nine judges from various High Courts have been summoned on deputation. I am not aware of any action taken against them,” said Supreme Court spokesperson Bhadrakali Pokharel. He did not disclose the names of the remaining judges although he confirmed the number of judges summoned to Kathmandu.

Biratnagar judges were accused of issuing wrong judgment while conducting hearings on the gold smuggling case. Police officials and others accused in the case were released after the judges ordered the authorities to free the accused on bail. 

When asked about the details of the judges summoned, the SC administration, however, was reluctant to share any information. 

Before taking action against the judges a five-member team led by Secretary of Judicial Council Nripa Dhwaj Niraula had visited Biratnagar to look into the court decision. Based on the report submitted by the probe panel, five judges involved in releasing the accused in the gold smuggling case on bail were summoned to JC.

It is learnt that the judges were deputed to the council after their judgments were found to be in deviation of the principles of justice. Rana, who took the charge of judiciary in the first week of this month, had vowed to launch reforms in the judiciary by forming a monitoring mechanism. 

Constitutionally, CJ can summon district judges on deputation.  But while summoning the High Court judges on deputation chief of judiciary, however, should endorse the such decision by the Judicial Council. This time, High Court judges, were summoned as per decision made by the CJ, according to the informed sources. 

 
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