Miscellaneous
4 chief judges named amid ‘note of dissent’
The Judicial Council on Thursday recommended four chief judges for different high courts despite a “note of dissent” by one of its members.The Judicial Council on Thursday recommended four chief judges for different high courts despite a “note of dissent” by one of its members.
According Minister for Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs Yagya Bahadur Thapa, who is a member of the council, JC member and senior most Justice Dipak Raj Joshi protested over the selection of Chief Registrar Nahakul Subedi as the senior most chief judge nominee.
Sources claimed that Chief Justice Gopal Parajuly favoured Subedi. The ranking was motivated to ensure that Subedi will eventually become eligible for appointment as the chief justice.
The meeting chaired by JC Chairman Parajuly decided to appoint Chief Registrar Subedi as the chief judge of Tulsipur High Court, Uday Chapagain as the chief judge of Janakpur High Court, Yagya Kumar Basyal to head the Dipayal High Court and Harikumar Pokhrel to lead the Surkhet High Court.
Joshi had voiced displeasure at the exclusion of a female nominee. On the seniority list, Justice Sushma Lata Mathema ranked fourth, after Justice Hari Kumar Pokhrel. Mathema was left out in favour of Subedi. The decision to appoint the chief judges comes at a time when final hearing on a case involving the appointment of 80 judges is pending at the Supreme Court.
Currently, Chapagain is serving as a judge at Janakpur High Court; Basyal is a judge on the temporary bench of Birgunj High Court while Pokharel is a judge at Butwal High Court.