The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a show cause notice to the Judicial Council (JC) regarding appointment of judges for High Courts. A single bench of Justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, however, refused to issue stay order, as demanded by the petitioners, against the JC decision to appoint judges. 

The five-member JC headed by Chief Justice Sushila Karki on January 12 had decided to recommend 80 judges for High Courts. The decision had run into controversy for “failing to follow the principle of inclusion and proportional representation”.

Government attorneys have also objected to the JC decision. 

Keshav Prasad Das, Mina Kumari Dev and Raksha Ram Harijan and Advocate Surendra Prasad Yadav had challenged the JC recommendations, arguing that the judges were picked on the basis of their political affiliation. 

The petitioners also claimed that the JC recommendations violated the principle of inclusion as 83.75 percent candidates were from the Khas Arya community, while Madhesi, Janajati, women and Dalits were under-represented. The judges were sworn in on Wednesday.