In the absence of judges, the appellate court in Dipayal has been constantly postponing case hearings. Likewise, locals coming from five districts of the farwestern region including remote Bajura and Bajhang districts have been facing hardships. [break]
At the appellate court, a bench comprised of at least two judges is required for a case hearing. But the chief judge of the court, Khem Raj Sharma, retired on May 3 and now there is only judge left at the court.
Following Sharma´s retirement, it has been impossible to conduct hearings, informed Jitendra Babu Thapaliya, document officer at the court.
The court should have settled around 100 cases in the last month, but in the lack of judge all the cases are pending, said Thapaliya.
Of the total four judges posts at the court, three fell vacant lately.
Likewise, the appellate court also hears habeas corpus petitions, which need to be dealt with promptly, but this has not happened since Sharma´s retirement, according to Thapaliya.
The lawyers are also affected by the lack of judges. “Our business has been severely affected as no hearings have taken place for the past several weeks,” said Rana Bahadur Singh, former central vice-president of Nepal Bar Association.
He said the extrajudicial detainees are also facing hardships in the absence of court hearings.
Related story
JC recommends 35 judges for district courts and six judges for...
