Generally the cause list is put up at 11 in the morning following which benches convene. “It was thought that justices would come back by 12 in the afternoon. But the schedule was delayed which led to late convening of the benches,” said Baburam Dahal, assistant spokesperson of the apex court. As a result, benches could not convene at all for 99 of the total 196 cases put up for hearing. Further, only 20 orders and 16 final orders were issued. Though justices were late to arrive at the court, the judicial staffs are required to come to the court at nine in the morning.

At the interaction, Justice Ram Kumar Shah presented a paper on the principles of interim order while JC member Upendra Kesari Neupane discussed the issue of public faith in the judiciary. Of the 13 justices, Kalyan Shrestha, Girish Chandra Lal and Sushila Karki did not participate in the interaction.

Meanwhile, members of legal fraternity have taken exception to the move. “Priority of a justice should be the court and service seekers. Such acts point towards irresponsibility of justices towards service seekers,” said Sunil Pokharel, general secretary of Nepal Bar Association.