Two district court judges, who have been charged with sexual harassment in Morang, are reluctant to appear before the Supreme Court despite an apex court directive.

Mahottari District Court Judges Prakash Dhungana and Purna Prasad Bastola, who were said to be in a drunken stupor when they were making sexual advances towards a women in local hotel, have not yet  appeared before the apex court.

“They have not appeared before the court so far. Let’s hope they will do so soon,” said Lal Bahadur Kunwar, joint registrar at the SC.

On Sunday, Judges Dhungana and Bastola had reportedly drunk beer at Sish Mahal hotel in Bardibas with four timber contractors and harassed the woman working at a local cooperative group. The woman had arrived at the hotel to collect daily deposits. The judges had verbally abused her while dragging her towards them.

One of the contractors is said to be Shyam Dhakal of Hetauda, according to the hotel owner.

The 22-year-old single woman ran home and informed her brother about the incident. Her brother, along with some locals, then handed the judges over to police. Locals were not aware of the identities of Dhungana and Bastola until they were handed over to police. Once their identities were revealed, locals picketed the police office, demanding action against the duo.

Police, however, released the judges after they made a public apology. Following media reports of judges’ alleged involvement in

sexually harassing the single women Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha had summoned

judges to appear at SC, Kathmandu.