Judges suspend their national conference

The pre-scheduled national conference of judges that was to take place in Kathmandu on October 27-28 has been suspended.

According to Dr. Ram Krishna Timalsena, registrar and spokesperson of the Supreme Court (SC), the conference was put off as it was felt that the timing was not appropriate. Reports say judges at district and appellate courts have requested for the suspension of the conference as the country was heading towards an interim constitution.

The conference was going to be held by the Society of Judges. The conference was called amid growing anxiety over the prospects of independence of judiciary in view of various developments such as proposed provision in the draft interim constitution about re-appointment of judges; active efforts by the parliamentary State Affairs Committee to review the decision made by the apex court; and moves to impeach two justices.

Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel has gone on record urging the state not to interfere in the independence of judiciary. Indicating to the proposed provision in the draft interim constitution about re-appointment of judges, CJ Poudel had publicly said, "Judges should be allowed to complete their tenure as per the law and the constitution." He said that democracy can flourish only amid independent judiciary and that no efforts to undermine the independence of judiciary should be acceptable to a free and sovereign state. nepalnews.com sd Oct 05 06