SC appointments draw criticism; NBA calls meeting to discuss appointments
The appointment of four ad hoc justices at the Supreme Court is drawing criticism from all walks of life.
Objecting to the appointment, Nepal Bar Association (NBA) has called a special meeting this Sunday.
The special NBA meeting will have participation by former NBA presidents, the current NBA president, senior advocates, advisors, and the chiefs and secretaries of all NBA units in Kathmandu Valley.
Meanwhile, 12 human rights groups, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists and two rights activists have issued a statement expressing their serious objection to the appointments.
Rights activists criticised the appointment claiming that the autocratic royal regime has started to interfere in the independent judiciary.
With the consent of the King, Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel, on Wednesday appointed former Attorney General Prof Pawan Kumar Ojha, two acting chief judges of Appellate Courts Tahir Ali Ansari and Rajendra Prasad Koirala and senior advocate Bipulendra Chakravarti as ad hoc justices in the Supreme Court.
Ojha has been controversial after he said that all the orders issued by the king are constitutional, since he is a devotee of Hindu religion and the constitution has given him special responsibility, while pleading on behalf the government in controversial Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC).
Ojha also said that the apex court in Pakistan had passed a verdict in favor of President Pervez Musharraf in the latter's bid to amend the constitution and asked the Supreme Court to pass a similar verdict in a case of RCCC.
In a press release, human rights activists including two former members of the National Human Rights Commission Sushil Pyakurel and Prof Kapil Shrestha have urged the Supreme Court leadership to protect the supremacy of the Constitution as well as the independence of the judiciary.
"The beginning of appointments of supporters of the February 1 move also indicates the possibility of another undemocratic move. We have strong objection to the appointments," a joint statement issued by 12 human rights organizations said. nepalnews.com pb Dec 30 05
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