KATHMANDU, Feb 1:  In an initiative to bring reforms in the judiciary, the Judicial Council (JC) has formed an inquiry panel to investigate complaints filed against district judges. 

Headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Cholendra SJB Rana, the JC on Thursday decided to form the panel in order to inquire about judges Omkar Upadhayaya (Tanahun District Court) and Bishwamangal Aatreya (Mustang District Court). 

The JC assigned Supreme Court Justice Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai to head the inquiry panel in order to investigate the complaints filed against Upadhayay and Aatreya who are currently deputed at the JC. According to sources, complaints have been filed against them accusing them of being involved in irregularities while performing their roles as judges. 

Earlier, chief judge of Biratnagar High Court, Kulratna Bhurtel and judges Saranga Subedi, Thir Bahadur Karki, Umesh Kumar Singh and Umesh Raj Paudel were summoned to the JC allegedly for delivering erroneous judgments in relation to releasing the accused of the 33 kg gold smuggling scam.

Police officials and others accused in the scam were released after the judges ordered the authorities to free them on bail. 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’s decisions. 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.

 
• Judicial_Council
 
• judges