Supreme Court Justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi Tuesday spoke out publicly for the first time after his resignation and implicitly accused former Chief Justice Bishwanath Upadhaya of nepotism.

“Former Chief Justice Upadhaya overlooked the system and promoted a junior person 11 years ago. While I was senior to Kedarnath Upadhaya in the regional court, his promotion as my senior was not justified,” Rayamajhi told the Himalayan Times Tuesday.

Kedarnath Upadhaya is Bishwanath’s brother. Bishwanath Upadhaya was also the chairman of the 1990 constitution drafting committee.

Kedarnath Upadhaya is to succeed Keshab Prasad Upadhaya who retires later this month after reaching superannuation age. King Gyanendra Monday accepted Rayamajhi’s resignation.

A single bench of the Supreme Court issued an order Monday asking the Registrar accept a complaint filed by several lawyers saying the outgoing Chief Justice should have retired on July 2 this year after reaching superannuation age.

Registrar Shri Prasad Pandit earlier rejected the complaint. Outgoing chief of the apex court accepted the gauntlet. “I will work until the last second of my retirement. I will bow down only to the Supreme Court’s order,” Upadhaya said.