The chief justice made the remark following demonstrations and the burning of effigies of judges by Maoists over the Supreme Court verdict in a dispute concerning the extension of service of eight Nepal Army generals.
The court on March 24 had stayed a government decision to retire eight brigadier generals of the army.
"Judicial independence comes with responsibility. But some individuals here wrongly think that the judiciary can be made more responsible if its independence were curtailed," the chief justice said, while addressing the first-ever gathering of judges in the capital Tuesday.
The chief justice´s remarks can also be perceived as a reply to allegations by Maoist senior ministers, including Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, that judges are not responsible to the people.
However, lawyers, excluding pro-Maoist ones and legal experts have termed the Maoist activities against the judiciary and judges in the aftermath of the March 24 stay order an attack on judicial independence.
The chief justice further added, "People should understand that the promoting of judicial independence is not done to merely serve the interests of the judiciary or judges."
Addressing the two-day conference of judges, Min Bahadur Rayamajhee, the senior-most justice of the Supreme Court, also complained that the judiciary is helpless when it has to hear voices of discontent over orders and verdicts passed by the judges.
"We, the judges, are compelled to hear voices of discontent when a particular side finds a verdict unfavorable. But these activities are beyond our control," Rayamajhee said, referring to the Maoist protest over the March-24 stay order on the retirement of army officers.
The Maoists protested the stay order because they did not like the eight retired brigadier generals’ continuing their jobs following the apex court´s intervention. Three week ago, the Maoist-led government had decided to not extend the brigadier generals’ service, and the generals had retired. But the brigadiers have continued their work following the stay order.
But Rayamajhee, who is likely to be the chief justice in early May, had consoling words for the participating judges, who expressed their dissatisfaction over the ongoing activities against judges and the judiciary. "We will continue to carry out our responsibility as long as our activities are in accordance with the law, judicial conduct and views," he said.
Altogether 223 judges, from the district courts to the Supreme Court, are attending the two-day conference--the first of its kind in the judicial history of Nepal. The judges are discussing three agendas: Judicial independence and responsibility, strategic planning of the judiciary and the new code of conduct for judges.
Related story
What to do when you see abusive behavior at work?
