KATHMANDU: The Judicial Council (JC) today recommended that the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee appoint two Justices in the Supreme Court and transfer one to the Special Court Kathmandu.

A meeting held today recommended Rana Bahadur Bam and Mohan Prakash Sitaula for permanent Justices of the Supreme Court (SC) as they are currently serving as ad-hoc judges in the apex court for the last one-and-a-half years, according to JC Secretary Jivan Hari Adhikary.

Though a few members were against the recommendation to conduct a hearing for the judges who had faced it during their appointment as ad-hoc judges, they later agreed that the second hearing would re-strengthen the public trust. Senior Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha, Law Minister Prem Bahadur Singh, members Motikaji Sthapit and Basudev Dhungana attended the meeting today.

The JC also recommended that the government transfer Jumla District Court judge Kedar Prasad Chalise to a post of judge in the Special Court, which looks into corruption cases.

The JC meeting also stripped the SC of its power to unofficially transfer judges and delegated the same to the JC secretary. "The meeting transferred the power that has currently been exercised by the SC Registrar to the JC secretary," Adhikary added.

The JC has been planning to appoint ad-hoc judges in the SC and chief judges in Appellate Courts only after the finalisation of the hearing process.