Slain SC judge was clean: JC

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Judicial Council led by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi today made it clear that slain Supreme Court Justice Rana Bahadur Bam, who was gunned down yesterday, was neither suspended nor recommended for impeachment.

Issuing a press release, the JC today expressed serious concern about the media reports that claimed he had been suspended from hearing cases and was facing impeachment in the Parliament. “Though a probe committee report was forwarded to the Parliament through the Ministry of Law and Justice against Justice Bam, it was not a formal recommendation for impeachment or suspension,” a press release issued by the JC stated.

Though he was not formally suspended, the Chief Justice had not assigned him any case since 16 December 2010, a day after the probe committee report was forwarded to the Parliament. Political parties never moved formal impeachment motion against Justice Bam in the Parliament and as such he was not suspended.

“Without registering a motion one cannot be suspended,” Krishna Giri, Joint Secretary, JC, told The Himalayan Times. The JC also stated that the report forwarded to the Parliament was only informative in nature. It also added that Bam was an honest and sociable person.

In its press release, the Judges’ Society called the government to investigate into the issue, punish the culprits and to provide security to the judges.

ICJ seeks thorough probe

KATHMANDU: International Commission of Jurists condemned the murder of Justice Bam and called on the Nepali authorities to ensure a full and independent investigation into the killing. “We deplore the criminal act of violence and urge the government to carry out an independent, thorough and effective investigation into the killing of Justice Bam, and to prosecute those found responsible,” said Sam Zarifi, ICJ’s Asia-Pacific Director.

“Attacks against judges undermine the rule of law and the administration of justice. The government must ensure the safety and security of members of the judiciary so that they are able to carry out judicial duties independently and without intimidation,” said Jan Borgen, Acting Director of ICJ’s Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.