Judges' Society Puts Off Conference

The Judges' Society has postponed its conference scheduled for October 27 and 28.

"The Judges' Society is thinking of holding the conference only after the promulgation of the interim constitution, but a formal decision in this regard will be taken only after Dashain," a press release issued recently by society's general secretary, Ishwor Khatiwoda, said.

"We judges, too, can contribute in democratic system by welcoming reforms in the judiciary; thus, we feel that there should not be any kind of hesitation for anyone with our discussion on any issues in such a conference," the release said.

The Judges' Society is ready to rethink about organising such a conference to oppose the move of the House of Representatives to impeach certain judges. A group of judges strongly suggested Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Paudel and the Judges' Society led by senior most Justice of the Supreme Court Kedar Prasad Giri not to invite any confrontation with the House. The CJ has publicly criticised the MPs' move to impeach judges and the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee's proposal to adopt a fresh appointment provision in the draft statute.

Some judges of the Supreme Court, appellate courts and district courts had suggested the Chief Justice on September 28 not the hold the conference as per the schedule. The judges had asked CJ Paudel and the Judges' Society to postpone the conference.

"The conference was scheduled early to discuss the modernisation of the judiciary and to from a new executive committee of the Judges' Society; it was not scheduled early with the intention to criticise any institution," the release added.