The Supreme Court has condemned the decision of the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) to seek the resignation of Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel and newly-appointed ad hoc judge Pawan Kumar Ojha.

Supreme Court (File Photo)

Supreme Court (File Photo)
The NBA on Monday sought the duo’s resignation terming them ‘incompetent’ in protecting the independence of the judiciary.

An emergency full court meeting called by CJ Paudel and attended by 23 justices of the SC condemned the NBA’s decision saying the SC is committed to protecting the rights of the people under the 1990 Constitution even in difficult times.

“The meeting expressed serious concern over the NBA stance,” a press release issued by the Acting Registrar of the apex court, Dr Ram Krishna Timalsena, said.

“Such a stance does not suit the NBA, which is an established lawyers’ institution in the country,” the statement added.

The SC urged the NBA to be constructive and not create hurdles in dispensing justice. “The apex court is committed to providing justice to the people at any cost and as such it is improper to oppose it,” the statement said.

Chief Justice (CJ) Dilip Kumar Poudel

Chief Justice (CJ) Dilip Kumar Poudel (File Photo)
The NBA also announced phase-wise stir against the recent appointment of four ad-hoc Justices of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel, with the consent of King Gyanendra, appointed Ojha, Tahir Ali Ansari, Rajendra Prasad Koirala and Bipulendra Chakravarti as Justices of the SC.