Lamichhane’s remand hearing assigned to Justice Dahal's bench

Kathmandu, October 20 — The case file of Rabi Lamichhane, president of the Rashtriya Swotantra Party (RSP), who was arrested for cooperative fraud, is set to be presented before Justice Nabaraj Dahal in Kaski District Court. According to Rajan Khanal, the registrar of Kaski District Court, Judge Dahal has been assigned to decide on the extension of the remand. Files for remand extensions for other cases will also be presented before Judge Dahal.

Lamichhane, who was brought to Pokhara following his arrest on Friday, will be presented in court for the first time to consider remand extension. The Kaski District Government Attorney's Office indicated that preparations are underway for remand extensions on two charges: cooperative fraud and organized crime. Discussions regarding an investigation into money laundering are also ongoing.

Five judges present today

Due to the absence of judges on Friday, one was summoned from Nepalgunj. However, by Sunday, all five judges were present to commence hearings at Kaski District Court after an 18-day hiatus.

The judges returned to court on Sunday after being on leave since the day of the festival on October 3. With a bench of seven judges, the court was left without any presence until 2 PM on Friday, creating uncertainty regarding the approval of Lamichhane's arrest. Following rumors that all judges were on leave, Judge Krishnajang Shah, who was in Nepalgunj, flew to Pokhara. Upon arrival, he granted approval for the arrest of Lamichhane and 13 others simultaneously.

On Sunday, judges Dahal, Bholanath Dhakal, Hariprasad Koirala, Krishnajang Shah, and Nitij Rai were present, and their individual benches were also established.

According to Suraj Adhikari, the information officer of Kaski District Court, judges Himlal Belbase and Chandrakanta Poudel remain on leave. Transferred judge Mahendra Bahadur Thapa was present at court but will not oversee any cases as he has been transferred to another court already.

Supreme Court to investigate absence of judges

In response to the absence of judges at Kaski District Court on Friday, Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut has taken the matter seriously and directed the Judicial Council to conduct an investigation and submit a report. He instructed Secretary Yam Bahadur Budha to gather information on the incident and prepare a report. The Chief Justice requested an explanation for why all judges were on leave during court hours.

Secretary Budha has begun inquiries with the Chief Justice of the High Court in Pokhara, Dr. Ratnabahadur Bagchand, along with district court judges and staff.

According to the Chief Justice’s secretariat, the situation arose because Justice Dahal took leave without making any alternative arrangements for service delivery on the court’s opening day. The Judicial Council will report on this matter after the investigation.

Further discussions on additional actions will take place once Secretary Budha submits the report, as indicated by the Chief Justice's secretariat.