He said that his efforts to clean up corruption, malpractices and wrong activities within the judiciary are still intact and he would expedite the anti-corruption moves before he retires.[break]
“The impeachment process against a Supreme Court (SC) justice is pending at parliament,” CJ Shrestha said in an interaction program organized by Karmachari Milan Kendra, Palpa, adding, “It is almost certain that some six judges will be sacked following the appointment of a new law minister.” The law minister is ex-officio member to the JC.
Shrestha added that the JC is all set to take action against some six incumbent judges on the basis of the findings of probe committees. He also said that he will become more active until he retires.
Shrestha vented ire against the jurisdiction of the CA Committee on Judiciary. “It is a matter of serious concern that there have been efforts to place the judiciary under the CA Committee on Judiciary,” he said, adding, “A parliamentary committee cannot appoint, transfer or promote judges.”
He also expressed serious objection over provisions that entrust the CA Committee on Judiciary with powers of final interpretation of the constitution. “Giving the mandate to the parliamentary committee for final interpretation of the constitution while bypassing the Supreme Court means there will be no independent judiciary in the country,” Shrestha said.
Nepal Bar Association President Prem Bahadur Khadka pledged that the Bar would foil all conspiracies to curtail the independence of the judiciary.
Khadka was of the view that the CA members must resign if they fail to promulgate a new constitution within the stipulated timeframe. “CA members should admit that they are too incompetent to write the constitution if they are not able to complete that task within the stipulated time. Nepal Bar Association will prepare a new constitution within a month, given the opportunity,” he added.
SC verdict on CA term doubted
Khadka expressed dissatisfaction over the SC verdict that says that the term of the CA will remain valid until the new constitution is promulgated. CJ Shrestha, however, said that he is unaware of such a verdict.
SC Spokesperson Hemanta Rawal said to journalists that the spirit of the SC verdict was not as claimed by media reports.
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