KATHMANDU, Feb 19: Senior-most Justice at the Supreme Court Deepak Raj Joshi resigned from the post on Tuesday.

Joshi submitted his resignation to President Bidya Devi Bhandari via Chief Justice Cholendra Sumsher Rana, according to sources.

Earlier on Jan 2, a meeting of the Judicial Council (JC) headed by the newly-appointed Chief Justice (CJ) Cholendra SJB Rana had stripped of all his official responsibilities. The meeting had removed Justice Joshi from his chamber at the apex court.

A room shared by other SC staffers was given to Justice Joshi in the annex of the SC though there was a practice of giving separate chambers to the justices of the apex court according to their seniority.   

Similarly, Joshi was removed from the five-member Constitutional Bench of the apex court.

The JC meeting also removed Joshi from the position of chairman of the Mediation Council at the SC. Justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada replaced Justice Joshi at the council.

In August last year, the Parliamentary Hearing Committee (PSC) had rejected the name of then Acting Chief Justice Joshi to the post of Chief Justice after the lawmakers from the ruling party Nepal Communist Party gave him the cold shoulder during the PSC meeting.

The situation turned unfavorable for Joshi after the main opposition, who was lobbying in support of Joshi earlier, also started following suit.

Joshi had an option to back off from the race of CJ by tendering his resignation. However, Joshi did not step down. The opposition leaders had advised Joshi to resign.

However, Joshi resumed office from mid-September, after a month-long leave.

 
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