Kathmandu, Dec 18:

At a time when the Judicial Council remains virtually defunct due to the rift between

Law Minister Dev Gurung and JC member Moti Kaji Sthapit, Chief Justice Kedar Prasad Giri has temporarily transferred 18 judges to ward off a crisis.

Chief Justice Giri, who is the ex-officio chairman of the JC, took the decision as the

JC is unable to transfer the judges permanently. The JC has not been able to hold a meeting

in two months. “This is just to avert a crisis,” SC assistant spokesperson Hemanta Rawal told this daily.

The CJ has shifted chief judges Rishi Raj Joshi from Pokhara Appellate Court to Mahendranagar Appellate Court and Gopal Parajuli from Mahendranagar to Pokhara.

The CJ also transferred judges Dipak Raj Joshi, Bhoopdhoj Adhikary, Laxman Mani Risal, Govinda Kumar Upadhayay, Ali Akabar Mikarani, Mohan Prasad Ghimire, Khem Raj

Sharma, Eak Raj Acharya, Sharada Prasad Ghimire, Bam Kumar Shrestha and Dambar Bahadur Shahi.

Bishnu Subedi, Hari Prasad KC, Thakur Sharma, Pashupati Acharya are also among the temporarily transferred judges.