Kathmandu, July 30
Ruling Nepal Communist Party says it will vote for rejection of Acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshee’s name for the Chief Justice.
It means Joshee will not get the top judicial position as his name has to be endorsed from the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee for the appointment. Two third members of the Committee can reject nominations for constitutional bodies.
Nine of 15 members of the Committee belong to the NCP. Besides, one lawmaker representing the ruling coalition partner Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal is also likely to support the party in the decision. Therefore, the party can reject the name.
The Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee had conducted a hearing with Joshee on Thursday last week, but has not given a decision yet citing controversies about his academic certificates and poor performance during the hearing. Some of his past verdicts were also controversial.
The Committee meeting, rescheduled for the second time for 2 pm today, is expected to make a concrete decision.
A senior leader of the party says the top leaders have already directed Committee members to reject his name.
The party at first wanted Joshee to resign for his face saving. However, it now wants to reject his name from the Committee as Joshee did not heed the request for resignation.
“Our message is that the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee can reject the name if there are sufficient grounds,” the source says, “If anything does not happen suddenly, the Committee is likely to reject his name.”
