KATHMANDU, Feb 7: The Supreme Court on Thursday annulled the contempt of court cases filed against Dr Govinda KC and Kantipur Publications, acquitting them of contempt.
A seven-member bench of Justices Deepak Kumar Karki, Meera Khadka, Harikrishna Karki, Bishwambhar Shrestha, Ishwar Khatiwada, Dr Anandamohan Bhattarai and Prakashman Raut decided to scrap the charge-sheets filed against Kantipur Publications and Dr KC.
SC shifts contempt case against Kantipur to another bench
The cases were filed over public speeches and news reports published against then chief justice Gopal Parajuli. Though the bench pronounced its judgment, it has not published the full text.
The cases were lodged at the apex court two years ago, seeking an order to punish the publishing house and Dr KC for showing disrespect for the court.
Issuing an interim order to the Nepal Press Council to monitor whether Kantipur Publications violated the code of conduct for journalists, the bench of then chief justice Parajuli had summoned Kantipur Publications officials to appear in court in person to face contempt charges and record their statements.
They had questioned the then chief justice over fake academic credentials. Parajuli was sacked by the Judicial Council on the ground that he had been serving beyond his tenure on the strength of dubious academic credentials.
