Communist Party MP Pun Accuses Government of Politicizing Chief Justice Appointment

Kathmandu. Nepali Communist Party (NCP) MP Barshaman Pun has accused the government of trying to politicize the appointment of the Chief Justice by violating the established seniority system of the judiciary. Talking to journalists on Wednesday in the Parliament House complex, he made such an accusation.

MP Pun accused the government of bringing politics into the judiciary for the first time in the 80-year history of the judiciary by appointing a judge in the fourth seniority position, disregarding the seniority order. He clarified that the party he was involved in had not engaged in politics in the judiciary in the past. He commented that the ruling party, ignoring the demand from his side to complete the process in the parliamentary hearing committee, was in excessive haste in the appointment process.

He said, 'We have not engaged in politics in the judiciary. Currently, the government side is accused of violating seniority and appointing a judge in the fourth seniority position as Chief Justice. There are accusations that they have engaged in politics and violated seniority in the 80-year history of justice. I do not need to comment further on this. They were also in a great hurry in the parliamentary hearing committee. Completing the process was our demand. But the ruling party was in a great hurry. We gave them the benefit of the doubt.'

He stated that they also supported the appointment of the Chief Justice based on the benefit of the doubt for the government that came with a mandate close to two-thirds.