His Majesty King Gyanendra, on the recommendation of the Judicial Council (JC), has relieved three district court judges from their respective posts, according to official news agency, RSS.

The judges sacked include Chitra Dev Joshi of Syangja District Court, Ganesh Panjiyar of Bajura and Kedar Prasad Pyakurel of Humla District Court.

“The council decided to relieve them of their posts on the basis of the report of the Investigation Committee, the Judicial Act 1990 and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990,” RSS quoted the JC as saying.

They were dismissed for lack of efficiency, according to RSS.

Joshi had criticised the royal takeover of last year in a public forum while the other two were allegedly took bribes while deciding cases. Joshi had said that the king’s action to assume all executive powers was unconstitutional as sovereignty rested with the people. The JC in its reports said that Joshi went against the judges’ code of conduct

Pyakurel and Panjiyar were working in Morang and Dhanusha district courts respectively when the Judicial Council summoned them for investigations on the allegations against them.