Contempt case against NBA President Ghimire scheduled for hearing

Kathmandu, October 17 — The hearing for the contempt of court case against Gopal Krishna Ghimire, President of the Nepal Bar Association (NBA), is set to take place before the bench comprising Justices Kumar Regmi and Kumar Chudal.

The contempt petition was filed on September 30, following a report from Deputy Registrar Govinda Ghimire at the Supreme Court. Ghimire has since announced the withdrawal of this petition.

Previously, Ghimire alleged that the Chief Justice and Chairman of the Judicial Council were involved in improper dealings concerning the appointment of two vacant judges at the Supreme Court. At that time, the Chief Justice was Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, who has since retired.

Currently, Prakash Man Singh Raut holds the position of Chief Justice. Tensions escalated when the Bar Association protested against the regulations of the Judicial Council, which subsequently recommended High Court Chief Justices Nripadhwaj Niraula and Nityanand Pandey for the vacant Supreme Court positions, provoking Ghimire's ire.

He made a provocative remark accusing the Council of disregarding the Bar's protests. However, the Bar later clarified that his statement was directed solely at the Chair of the Judicial Council and not at the court itself. The hearing today will ascertain whether the case will proceed. Should the joint bench dismiss the case, it will not advance; conversely, if a re-hearing is ordered, it may further exacerbate the existing tensions between the Bar and the bench.