Kathmandu, Nepal, October 5, 2021: The Supreme Court (SC), the Apex Court of the country, has been dragged into controversy after Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana faced a charge that he demanded his share in the incumbent Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government.
Though charging of the judiciary on ranges of issues including indulging of corruption, appointing of justices under political quota, favoring while delivering justice and others have become common in Nepal, recent one charge of demanding share judiciary in the government has become a new incident in Nepal’s history.
Various media had been reporting that Chief Justice Rana demanded at least two cabinet ministries in the cabinet. However, none of the media have put forwarded the evidence that the Chief Justice Rana had demanded share in the government.
The fresh controversy has obviously raised serious question marks over the issue of separation of powers among the judiciary, executive and parliament that used to be considered as the major pillars in the multi party democracy like ours.
The judiciary, particularly the SC, is dragged into controversy at the time when the government has failed to get full shape due to the delay to reach on consensus among the ruling allies over the issue of sharing of ministerial posts. It is also claimed that the demand made by the Chief Justice Rana in the cabinet has also played role to delay to expand the cabinet.
Responding to the media report, the Nepal Bar Association (NBA), the umbrella organization of Nepalese lawyers, has issued a statement on Monday stating that its serious attention has been drawn over the issue.
‘The independence of judiciary faced a serious crisis if the chief of the judiciary seeks share in the executive, reads the statement.
However, the Supreme Court (SC), the Apex Court of the country, has on Monday refuted news reports that Chief Justice (CJ) Cholendra Shamsher JB Rana has demanded his share in the incumbent Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government.
Issuing a press statement, SC Spokesperson Baburam Dahal refuted the media reports that Chief Justice Rana demanded his share in the cabinet. It was reported in several media that Chief Justice Rana demanded at least two cabinet ministers in the government.
‘It is very sad and unfortunate that some media reported news linking Chief Justice Rana regarding the expansion of the cabinet, reads the statement. The SC has also requested the media to publish news after verifying the truths.
