SC judges appointed bypassed senior

Kathmandu, Dec 20-King Gyanendra, on recommendation of the Judicial Council, monday appointed Rajendra Kumar Bhandari and Top Bahadur Magar as the justices of the SC. Bhandari and Magar were temporary justices of the SC.

The appointment has bypassed Paramananda Jha who is senior than both Bhandari and Magar. Jha has been working as a temporary justice of the SC for 15 months and was dragged into controversy after he freed a drug peddler, Dil Bahadur Gurung, on bail. An inquiry committee set up by the JC had recommended action against Jha saying he is incompetent to work as the Supreme Court judge.

“We did not recommend Jha’s name for the post of permanent justice,” a member of the JC said.