Lawyers affiliated to the Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Judicial Council’s decision of recommending 80 judges for High Courts. Petitioners Jagadev Chaudhari and Raksha Ram Chamar among others have made the JC and its members defendants. In their writ, the petitioners have claimed that the JC failed to abide by the principle of inclusion guaranteed by the constitution and Judicial Council Act. 

Of the 80 persons recommended as HC judges, 62 persons, or 83.75 percent, are from the Khas Arya group, which accounts for 31.25 percent of the population of Nepal as per 2011 census. Similarly, the JC has picked three women (3.75 percent), who constitute 51.4 percent of the total population and four Madhesis (5 percent) who account for 14.83 percent of the total population. 

Although Janajatis—except Newars and Tharus—constitute 24.2 percent of total population, only three persons (3.75 percent) have been recommended as High Court judges. (PR)