I did not care : CJ

Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Paudel on Tuesday said that he does not care about the MPs' demand for his resignation.

When asked to comment on the MPs' demand during a tea party hosted by him to mark the Law Day, the CJ said, "I don't care".
The MPs have been threatening to impeach Chief Justice Paudel, ad hoc judge Pawan Kumar Ojha and Appellate Court judge Shambhu Bahadur Khadka if they do not quit fast.

Ojha was also present at the tea party, but refused to comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Mahanta Thakur, who was also present at the function, said, "The government has taken serious note of the matter. However, it is not on the House agenda."

The government would respect and implement any decision passed by the parliament, Thakur said, adding, "As the other ministers have been taking part in a Cabinet meeting, I came here to represent the government."

President of the Nepal Bar Association Shambhu Thapa said though the lawyers' umbrella organisation has decided to participate in the tea party, it does not mean that it has stopped calling for the CJ's resignation. He said the lawyers decided to take part in the tea party after the CJ promised to consider dismissing Ojha.

Former president of the NBA Harihar Dahal said, "If the CJ does not live up to his commitment, we will again call for the resignation of the CJ and other judges appointed by the royal regime."

However, leaders of the Supreme Court Bar Association boycotted the tea party.