According to officials, Chief Justice Anup Raj Sharma did not want to reach any decision before he retires as the JC members were sharply divided over the appointments and the fate of the suspect judges. [break]
Council members became sharply divided after the chief justice and Minister for Law and Justice Prem Bahadur Singh proposed different names for the judicial appointments, according to another JC source.
"We couldn´t reach any decision at today [Friday´s] JC meeting either, admitted Minister Singh, adding, "The entire agenda for Friday´s meeting was deferred for an indefinite period after Chief Justice Sharma asked council members not to take any decisions in haste."
According to Minister Singh, Chief Justice Sharma refused to reach any decision, thinking that decisions taken just before he retires may get dragged into controversy.
"I am retiring soon and we don´t have enough time to discuss the matter. I could be dragged into controversy if the decisions are taken just before of my retirement and under pressure," Law Minister Singh quoted Sharma as saying.
Singh said that there is slim chance of another JC meeting before Sharma´s retirement on March 26. The JC meeting had mainly two agenda items.
First, the JC was expected to appoint three temporary justices to the SC and four chief judges for appellate courts. Secondly, the JC was also expected to determine the fate of 70 judges who were investigated on charges of corruption and misconduct.
JC member Sthapit submits report
Meanwhile, another knowledgeable source informed myrepublica.com that JC member Moti Kaji Sthapit submitted his investigation report at the JC meeting. A summary of the report has been made available to other JC members. Sthapit has been investigating the 70 judges for the past four months.
"We will decide the fate of the suspect judges very soon," said Law Minister Singh. JC members, however, declined to share information on how many of the judges have been found guilty. JC sources indicated that only a few are found to have been involved in corruption and misconduct.
Related story
JC recommends 35 judges for district courts and six judges for...
