Kathmandu, June 11

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba today denied making any comments against the independence of judiciary and judicial norms and values.

Talking to a group of journalists on the sidelines of an interaction organised here today, Deuba said he merely raised the issue of contradictory steps with regard to Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee.

Deuba said Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli withdrew the name of Ram Prasad Sitaula, who had been nominated to the Judicial Council, saying there was no PHSC but later 11 Supreme Court justices were nominated by the JC and the 21 ambassadors were nominated by the Constitutional Council giving an impression that the PHSC still existed.

“I merely referred to these facts. I did not make any comments about the judiciary,” the Deuba clarified.

NC lawmaker Ramesh Lekhak said the press release issued by the Supreme Court yesterday was being interpreted by media as the apex court’s dissatisfaction with Deuba. Lekhak said the SC should not have issued such a misleading press release.