KATHMANDU, Dec 7: Legal practitioners staged a sit-in at the main gate of the Supreme Court on Wednesday after the Parliament Secretariat issued a letter to suspended Chief Justice Cholendra SJB Rana stating that the impeachment motion against him was no longer relevant as the term of the parliament has expired.
The legal practitioners started the protest upon learning that Rana would resume his job after receiving the letter from the Parliament Secretariat which mentions that his suspension has been lifted.
They gathered at the main entrance of the Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon to stop Chief Justice Rana from resuming his office.
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Legal practitioners gathered together with the officials of Nepal Bar Association (NBA) and Supreme Court Bar Association arguing that the letter of suspension issued by the Parliament Secretariat was against the constitution. They said that Rana will not be allowed to enter the Supreme Court under any circumstances.
Legal practitioners argued that Rana should not be allowed to serve as the chief justice. According to the agitating lawyers, Rana is incapable of leading the Supreme Court from both legal and ethical points of view.
“A suspended chief justice will not be allowed to enter the Supreme Court. The impeachment motion does not expire just because the term of the old parliament has expired. We have to comply with the provisions of the law in a lawful manner,” said one of the agitating lawyer.
“We have been informed that the suspended chief justice, who is facing impeachment motion, will now come to the Supreme Court. Today, we will stop him at any cost. A controversial chief justice can no longer lead the judiciary. The Nepalese people no longer trust him because he cannot bring any far-reaching programs to improve the judiciary,” said an NBA official.
Secretary General of Parliament Secretariat Dr Bharat Raj Gautam had handed over a letter to the suspended chief justice Rana saying that the impeachment motion against him has been void. Legal practitioners argue that Chief Justice Rana should not be allowed to enter the Supreme Court because the letter is against the constitution.
