Supreme Court’s senior-most justice Deepak Kumar Karki has been the Acting Chief Justice with the registration of an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Cholendra Shumser JB Rana.
Lawmakers from the ruling parties moved the federal parliament secretariat, Singha Durbar this morning to file a motion of impeachment against Rana. With this, Karki has become the acting CJ naturally as being the senior most justice at the SC.
The impeachment proposed by Dev Prasad Gurung of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Dr Pushpa Bhusal of the Nepali Congress and Jeevanram Shrestha of CPN (Unified Socialist) was backed by Nepali Congress Dr Minendra Rijal and many other lawmakers.
CJ relieved of duties with registration of impeachment motion
With the registration of an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Cholendra Shumser JB Rana questioning his performance, he has not been allowed to discharge the duties.
The lawmakers from the ruling parties today registered the motion of impeachment against CJ Rana at the Singha Durbar-based federal parliament secretariat in accordance with Article 101 of the Constitution.
As per the Constitutional provision, after the commencement of impeachment proceedings, the Chief Justice shall not be allowed to discharge the duties of his office. This is like of suspensions from the office until the case is settled.
Article 101 (2) states one fourth of the total members of the House of Representatives may move a motion of impeachment against the Chief Justice or a Judge of the Supreme Court, member of the Judicial Council, chief or official of a Constitutional Body on the ground of his or her failure to fulfil his or her duties of office because of serious violation of this Constitution and law, incompetence or misconduct or failure to discharge the duties of office honestly or serious violation of the code of conduct. If the motion is passed by at least two-thirds majority of the total number of the members of the House of Representatives, the concerned person shall relieve of his or her office.
The Constitution, however, guarantees a person charged with impeachment shall be provided with a reasonable opportunity to defend himself/herself.
The motion is proposed by CPN (Maoist Centre)’s Dev Prasad Gurung, Nepali Congress Dr Pushpa Bhusal and CPN (Unified Socialist)’s Jeevan Ram Shrestha and it is backed by 98 lawmakers including Dr Minendra Rijal.
Secretariat Joint Spokesperson Dashrath Dhamala said the motion will be presented before the Speaker and the Speaker will probably present it before the Business Advisory Committee for discussions and will proceed with further action.
