Saturday, December 15, 2007

Judicial Council deliberating on ad hoc judges’ tenure extension

The Judicial Council (JC) is in confusion whether or not to make permanent three ad hoc judges, whose term is going to end soon.“We have been planning what should be done on this issue,” a highly-placed JC source told reports himalayatimes .
The JC headed by Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Paudel recommends the appointment of the judges’ action against any judge involved in corruption and irregularities.
“We have been thinking to let them continue as ad hoc judges,” the source said, adding: “But we have been thinking whether parliamentary hearing is needed to continue for the ad hoc judges.” According to him, there is no clarity in the Interim Constitution whether or not parliamentary hearing is needed for the ad hoc judges. “We will consult the parliament in this regard,” he added.
A member of the JC Basudev Dhungana said that they have been thinking what should be done in this regard. “We will decide on this soon,” Dhungana added.
Ad hoc judges Pawan Kumar Ojha, Rajendra Prasad Koirala and Tahir Ali Ansari are going to complete their tenure on December 29. Some of the JC members want to let them continue as ad hoc judges so that they do not need to face the hearing, but some others do not want to extend their tenure.They were appointed on December 28, 2005. Ojha was chosen as ad hoc judge of the apex court when he was appointed AG after the royal takeover on February 1, 2005.
However, a member of the parliamentary hearing committee, Khimlal Devkota, said that even if anyone is going to be appointed SC ad hoc judge, he should face parliamentary hearing.
“He or she should face the hearing because he will decide over the property, life and liberty of the people. Besides, ad hoc judges also draw salary from the state treasury,” Devkota added.

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