Judges endorse four-point resolution

The two-day conference of justices of the Supreme Court and chief judges of appellate courts ended , endorsing a four-point resolution.
The resolution has stressed coordination between institutions concerned to make the judiciary independent.
The conference also decided to review the Judges' Code of Conduct, 1998, to garner public support for the judiciary. “There is an urgent need to forge coordination between institutions concerned to make the judiciary independent,” the resolution has said.
“Judicial independence is a pre-condition for democracy. We should take initiatives on our own to make the judiciary independent,” number 3(c) of the resolution has stated.Number 3 (a) of the resolution has stated that the judges should work to make the judiciary more competent.
The resolution has urged the judges to work to adjudicate justice as per the wish of the court users. It has also stressed the need to make justice accessible for commoners.
The conference has formed a committee headed by justice of the apex court Khil Raj Regmi to review the judges' code of conduct.
Justice Ram Kumar Prasad Shaha, chief judge of the Patan appellate court Rana Bahadur Bam, judge of the Jumla appellate court Tarka Raj Bhatta, Appellate Court judge Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and judge of the Kathmandu district court Narayan Prasad Dahal are members of the committee, whereas secretary of the Judicial Council Prakash Kumar Dhungana is member-secretary of the committee. The conference concluded that there is a need to work further to realise goals mentioned in the five-year plan of the judiciary. The resolution said there is an urgent need to forge coordination with several institutions in adjudicating justice, adding that judges will work towards this end.
The conference also passed a resolution allowing two district court judges aged under 45 years to get higher education in law every year.
In his concluding remarks, Chief Justice Kedar Prasad Giri called the judges to follow the to-be-promulgated code of conduct of judges.
Seniormost justice Min Bahadur Rayamajhi urged judges to work hard to reform the judiciary.
Justice Anup Raj Sharma said the judiciary is at a crossroads and has been facing difficulties. He, however, called the Nepal Bar Association and the press to evaluate the performance of the judges and criticise them if need be.