Contempt of court against Kantipur: Justice Rana boycotts bench

• Says CJ Parajuli has crossed retirement age

  

• Hearing deferred following justice Rana's differing views

Mar 12, 2018-Supreme Court (SC) Justice Cholendra SJB Rana on Monday boycotted a full bench that has been hearing on the contempt of case against Kantipur Daily. He refused to sit alongside Chief Justice (CJ) Gopal Prasad Parajuli claiming that the latter had crossed his retirement age. 

"Parajuli has already crossed his retirement age and a retired CJ cannot head the bench,"said Justice Rana said.

The hearing has been postponed after Justice Rana forwarded a dissenting opinion.

CJ Parajuli had formed a seven-member bench under himself to hear on the contempt of court case against Kantipur Daily. The bench comprises Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli and Justices Om Prakash Mishra, Cholendra SJB Rana, Deepak Kumar Karki, Kedar Prasad Chalise, Saradha Prasad Ghimire and Tej Bahadur KC.

The full bench is handling two separate contempt of court cases filed against Kantipur daily and anti-corruption crusader Dr Govinda KC together.

“CJ Parajuli showed us his certificates which had two dates of birth. As per the provision in the Judicial Council Act, he should have retired on August 5, 2017. I cannot sit on the same bench with the Chief Justice who has already retired. So, I decided to stay out,” Justice Rana said.

Source: ekantipur