File image: Supreme Court of NepalKathmandu, March 13
Six more justices at Nepal’s Supreme Court have boycotted hearings set by controversial Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli, a day after one of the senior-most justices accused the CJ Parajuli of working past the age of retirement.
According to sources, Justices Hari Krishna Karki, Sapana Malla Pradahn, Biswambhar Shrestha, Anil Kumar Sinha, Ishswar Prasad Khatiwada and Ananda Moha Bhattarai declined to hear cases on Tuesday.
Justice Choldendra Sumsher Rana on Monday said Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli ought to have retired in July last year but still continues to work. Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli had convened a full bench to look into a contempt of court against Kantipur Publications. Parajuli was to hear the case along with justices Om Prakash Mishra, Deepak Kumar Karki, Kedar Prasad Chalise, Sarada Prasad Ghimire, Tej Bhadar KC and Justice Rana.
Following Rana’s refusal to sit alongside Parajuli on Monday, the hearing in the case had been postponed. According to sources, when proceedings were about to begin in the hearing, Rana stood up and read out a statement. In the statement, he had said that Parajuli ought to have retired in July last year.
Parajuli has been dragged into controversy after reports surfaced claiming that he forged his education certificates to lower his age. His decisions in cases related to medical colleges have also been controversial.
