Friday, September 07, 2007

CJ Poudel retires, his successor still uncertain

Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel retired from his post on Friday. Poudel serviced as the chief justice for about two and a half years.
The justices and employees of the Supreme Court bid farewell to Poudel amidst a function held at the court.
However, media persons were not allowed to cover the event. Journalists were allowed in such functions in the past.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary hearing committee is yet to take a final decision on the name of Poudel’s successor, Kedar Prasad Giri.
On August 30, a meeting of the constitutional council chaired by the Prime Minister had recommended Supreme Court Justice Giri to succeed Poudel.
Though a panel formed by the parliamentary Special Hearing Committee to probe complaints filed against Giri was expected to arrive at a decision today, it could not do so after the lawmakers remained divided over his name.
The nine-member panel was formed after more than a dozen complaints were registered at the parliamentary hearing committee against the Chief Justice-designate Giri.
Most individuals have raised serious moral questions against Giri, saying he had failed to maintain professional ethics in his long judicial career.
Some of them have also reminded the parliamentarians about a controversial verdict related to financial embezzlement in Mahalaxmi Sugar Mill.
Later, as some commercial banks filed complaints against Giri in the parliament, the Public Accounts Committee had also discussed whether the House should impeach Giri.
The meeting of the probe panel has been adjourned till Sunday morning while the parliamentary hearing committee is meeting in the afternoon.
At present, there are five Supreme Court Justices eligible for the post of the Chief Justice.
They are Kedar Prasad Giri (senior most), Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Anup Raj Sharma, Ram Prasad Shrestha and Khil Raj Regmi.

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