File image: Supreme Court of NepalAlmost all newspapers published in Kathmandu on Thursday have given priority to reports related to the Judicial Council’s decision to relieve Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli from his position. Similarly, the swearing in of President Bhandari and the death of physicist Stephen Hawking are some of the other stories that have received attention. Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the press today:
Important
Judicial Council to Parajuli: You’re out, Parajuli says not
Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli, who has been relieved of his position, still claims to hold the post, Naya Patrika reports. The paper says that Justice Deepak Raj Joshi, the senior-most justice in the court, says he will take charge as the head of the judiciary from Thursday.
The paper also reports that legal experts are also divided on Parajuli’s fate. The paper says CJ Parajuli met Prime Minister KP Oli in Balauwatar on Wednesday after the CJ administered the oath of office to President Bhandari. Parajuli was seen heading to the meeting with ‘law books’ in his hand.
Meanwhile, Kantipur reports that the ruling coalition is preparing to table an impeachment motion against Parajuli if he does not leave the Supreme Court.
Ruling coalition’s focus on Cabinet expansion
Annapurna Post says that with the election for Speaker and President done, the ruling coalition’s focus is now on expanding Oli’s Cabinet. The paper reports that Oli and Maoist Centre chief Prachanda are holding marathon talks to reach an agreement. The Prime Minister is also holding talks with Forum Nepal and the RJP to get them onboard.
President Bhandari takes oath of office, courts controversy
Republica says the swearing in of President Bidya Devi Bhandari for a second term has been called into question as the oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli, who had just been relieved from his post.
Ignored
Cabinet decisions leading to deforestation
Rajdhani reports that the government is allowing millions of trees to be cut every year in the name of development. The paper says that according to prevailing laws, the government can authorise the clearing of forests for priority projects. If figures from the last 20 years are to be analysed, the government has authorised the clearing of thousands of hectares of forest land, the report says. The report says that government should be held accountable for this.
Insurance amount for air crash victims not hiked for six decades
Karobar reports that the government has not hiked the amount airline operators need to set aside for insurance, in the last six years. According to the paper, the kin of people who die inside Nepal’s airspace receives six times less insurance money that outside Nepal. The paper says the kin of the passengers who died on board the US-Bangla aircraft on Monday will only receive $2,000 as insurance. However, outside of Nepal, the amount would have been around $113,000. The paper says that because both Bangladesh and Nepal are not parties to the 1999 Montreal Convention. Both the countries refer to the Hague Protocol (1955) to decide compensation for the victims.
Interesting
Nepal to build warehouses in Kolkata and Haldiya
Abhiyan reports that the government is preparing to build warehouses in Kolkata and Haldiya to facilitate Nepal’s international trade. Nepal’s economic consul in Kolkata Ek Nayaran Aryal told the paper that the government already has land in Kolkata and Haldiya and it can be put to use by building warehouses. The paper says that Nepal has round 11,000 sq ft of land in both Kolkata and Haldiya and it can be put to use. Once the warehouses become operational Nepali traders can save billions of rupees they are paying for warehouse services both the ports
