KATHMANDU, MAY 7: Chief Justice-designate Min Bahadur Rayamajhee has said that the existing parliamentary hearing system should be modified so as the system satisfies all, especially the legal community.
The legal community has been critical of the system ever since the Interim Constitution for the first time introduced the system of confirmation hearing for chief justice and Supreme Court judges, arguing the system undermines judicial independence. But political parties defend the system saying it makes judges more accountable to people. [break]
“If the hearing system is to be made effective, the hearing should be done before the Constitutional Council makes its recommendation. Alternatively, the Constitutional Council should be scrapped if the hearing is to be enforced,” Rayamajhee told the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee when lawmakers asked his opinion on the hearing.
Judges' conference for removing parliamentary hearing for judge...
According to the Interim Constitution, the Constitutional Council first recommends its choice for chief justice which requires a confirmation from the committee later.
Rayamajhee, during the hearing, announced his plan for transparency in judicial proceeding. “I have planned to fix close circuit televisions in all the chambers of the courts based in the valley. This will begin from my court chamber at the Supreme Court,” Rayamajhee, 64, said.
Replying to questions from lawmakers on judicial delay, Rayamajhee blamed for old laws. “I need your held to update the old laws,” confident-looking Rayamajhee said showing his hands toward to the lawmakers.
On corruption questions in judiciary, Rayamajhee said, “I do not claim that judiciary and courts are clean. But there are also clean people in the judiciary.”
He also offered a plan to partially address the corruption charge on the judiciary. “The new code of conduct for judges is being enforced. The code of conduct will address 99 percent complaints against judiciary and judges,” he said during the hearing. “I am going to set up an effective mechanism to address such complaints.”
When asked for his view on the structure of judiciary in federalism that the country has set to adopt, Rayamajhee strongly said that “integrated” judiciary best suits to the small country like Nepal.
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