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KATHMANDU, June 19: The Judicial Council has recommended the Supreme Court (SC) to recall two judges from the temporary bench of Janakpur High Court in Birgunj, who had acquitted Nepali Congress leader and former minister Mohammad Aftab Alam and three others.
Judges Dr Khusi Prasad Tharu and Arjun Maharjan had delivered the controversial verdict, clearing Alam of charges in the infamous Rautahat bomb blast case. Following the verdict, complaints were filed against both judges by the victims' families and legal activists, demanding an investigation.
Complaint filed against judges who acquitted Alam
One of the complaints was lodged by Srinarayan Singh Rajput, the father of Trilok Prasad Singh (Pintu), who was killed in the 2008 blast. Activist Yubaraj Safal also filed a separate complaint against the judges.
The recommendation for their removal was made during Wednesday’s meeting of the Judicial Council. However, Registrar of the Birgunj bench, Dipak Bhandari, said they have yet to receive an official letter confirming the decision.
According to Bhandari, both judges have been on leave since Sunday and are currently in contact with the SC. Tharu currently holds the senior-most position in the Birgunj bench following the transfer of previous chief judge Rajan Bhattarai to Biratnagar High Court.
