Kathmandu, Sept 30: A full-court meeting of the Supreme Court has raised serious concerns over growing “external influence and interference” in the administration of justice, while also criticising the government over the late-night detention of former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana.
Sixteen of the Supreme Court’s 17 serving justices attended Monday’s full-court meeting, with Justice Binod Sharma absent. According to a participating justice, much of the three-hour discussion focused on external interference and its impact on judicial independence.
Justices questioned Rana’s detention without an arrest warrant or a clear explanation, followed by his release the next day. The meeting agreed that the manner of his detention was unlawful.
“The main concern raised by the justices was the growing external interference and influence,” a participating justice said. “There was also discussion about judges having to work under fear and pressure.”
The justices urged Chief Justice Manoj Sharma to take a firm stand against interference from any quarter, assuring him of their support in defending judicial independence.
While concerns were raised that the judiciary was increasingly coming under government influence, the meeting did not publicly identify those responsible. However, participants made indirect references to the ruling party as well as former Chief Justice Rana.
Some justices also questioned Rana’s recent activities, describing his growing public engagement as unusual. While no one disputed that his late-night detention was unlawful, concerns were expressed over his conduct after leaving office.
The Supreme Court later reflected these concerns in a unanimous statement issued on Monday night.
“The full-court wishes to assure citizens that no form of external or internal influence will be given any place whatsoever in the administration of justice or any other judicial function,” the statement said.
A participating justice said the wording represented the collective position of the court and that no justice had registered a dissent.
The meeting also discussed alleged external interference at the Special Court, which hears corruption cases. Justices reportedly called for immediate action. Judges from the Special Court had recently approached the Chief Justice complaining of difficulties and pressure while carrying out judicial work.
Some senior justices also raised concerns over the discretionary formation of constitutional benches.
After an intense three-hour discussion, Chief Justice Sharma reportedly assured the meeting that there would be no compromise in protecting judicial independence. He said he was working to reform the judiciary and would take the concerns raised by the full-court into account.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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