On Sunday, lawyer-turned Constituent Assembly member Radhe Shyam Adhikari criticized Law Minister Dev Prasad Gurung for asking Sthapit, who was appointed in the JC as jurist by the Girija Prasad Koirala-led government, to step down.
Speaking during zero hour at today´s meeting of the Constituent Assembly, Adhikari, who is also a senior advocate, said, "The job of the law minister is to promote judicial independence, not to impose own decisions [on JC member]."
The present government has maintained that Sthapit should step down following the change in government. But Sthapit has continued to maintain that the term of his post is for four years under the Interim Constitution and government cannot seek his resignation.
Adhikari further said, "The term of the JC member is for four years. He should not resign following the change in the government."
He demanded that the law minister be present before the Constituent Assembly and tell the facts regarding the pressure on Sthapit to quit.
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