KATHMANDU, Sept 11; Supreme Court's senior-most justice Deepak Raj Joshee, who was in leave since the Parliamentary Hearings Committee (PHC) rejected his nomination to the post chief justice last month, has decided to resume his office from Tuesday amid threats of impeachment by the ruling party leaders.
The ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leaders have conveyed message to Joshee through his aides that he would have to face impeachment if he chooses to resume office. According to highly-placed source of NCP, various party leaders including Yogesh Bhattarai have suggested to Joshee to resign from the post to secure his pension and safeguard the social prestige that he has earned so far.
PHSC may endorse Joshee for CJ today
Advocate Tikaram Bhattarai, who is close to NCP, has been asked to draft an impeachment motion, the source added. The ruling NCP had voted to reject Joshee's nomination as the CJ during a meeting of the Parliamentary Hearings Committee. After his rejection, Joshee had taken leave on August 5 and extended it until the decision on nomination of Om Prakash Mishra as new CJ was taken.
But, according to his aides, Joshee decided to work under Mishra, who was junior to him, and resume duty at the SC from Tuesday. Joshee had reached the Supreme Court on Monday evening to greet the newly-appointed Chief Justice Mishra.
