Congress MP Narayan Dutt Mishra Questions Chief Justice Recommendation Process, Cites Risk to Judicial Independence

Kathmandu. Nepali Congress MP Narayan Dutt Mishra has raised questions about the Chief Justice recommendation process, stating that the risk of judicial proceedings being influenced by the executive branch has increased.  

Speaking in the zero hour of the National Assembly meeting on Wednesday, MP Mishra mentioned that the recent decision in the name of the Constitutional Council has created challenges to the history, tradition, and independent judiciary of the Supreme Court.

MP Mishra recalled the incident on August 24 where historical documents of courts across the country, including the Supreme Court, were reduced to ashes in a fire, and stated that the current recommendation process has become even more concerning. He said that if the court, considered the final referee of democracy, itself falls within the circle of bias, faith in justice in the country will weaken.  

He stated that the recommendation for the Chief Justice has created a fear that a tradition of judicial proceedings being conducted at the behest of the executive branch, contrary to the established tradition of the court, might be starting to take root. Speaking in the house, he said, 'When historical documents in courts across the country, including the Supreme Court, turned to ashes on August 24, and justice was disrupted, the decision in the name of the Constitutional Council has now caused fear due to the recommendation for Chief Justice, contrary to the history and tradition of the court, fearing that a tradition of judicial proceedings at the behest of the executive might start to take root. If the court, as the final referee of democracy, which is repeatedly questioned, is forced to live within a strong circle of bias, we will be forced to live in fear that justice is disappearing from the country.'

MP Mishra has also urged the government to pay attention to the protection of human rights and democracy. He stated that the demolition of slum settlements with bulldozers without even a 15-day notice is against human rights. He believes that such actions, carried out without adhering to the minimum rights of citizens and legal procedures, mock democracy. He has drawn the government's attention to keeping the judiciary free from political influence and respecting citizens' rights.