KATHMANDU, March 6: Demanding that the constitutional provision which requires parliamentary hearings for judges' appointment at the Supreme Court be removed, the three-day third judges' national conference concluded on Friday issuing a 29-point declaration.Stating that the parliamentary hearing for judges in Nepal has not been effective, the conference called for removing the practice.
The judges conference concluded that this practice has invited political influence in the judiciary.
The conference also stressed the need for judges' appointment without political inducement and also called upon officials to resist improper publicity against the judiciary and the judges systematically.
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The conference also called for strengthening the federal system through the allocation of judicial power to provincial high courts. The declaration stressed providing sufficient power to high courts in each province and also called for ensuring the role of the high courts for ensuring economic and social rights to the public through the execution of fundamental rights.
Stating that the provision of submitting annual report of the Supreme Court to the head of the state is not compatible with the principle of independence of the judiciary, the conference also called for removing such provision from the constitution.
The conference also called to remove a provision of the constitution based on which only three lawmakers could initiate an impeachment motion against any judge of the Supreme Court apart from initiating such motion by one fourth strength of parliament.
The judges' conference also called for setting up a new mechanism under the Chief Justice with the involvement of other Supreme Court judges for initiating investigations against any judge to inquire into matters relating to the code of conduct for judges.
Stating that the official pecking order is being changed frequently undermining the dignity and honour of the judges, the conference called upon everyone to be sensitive while determining their pecking order by the government.
Stating that the salaries and other perks and benefits for judges is not sufficient, the conference called upon the government to set up a judicial pay commission to ensure that the judges get enough pay and other perks.
