KATHMANDU: Outgoing Chief Justice Min Bahadur Rayamajhi today said that promulgation of Contempt of Court Act was necessary to take action against those not abiding by court orders.

Stating that the court could

not take action against those, who do not abide by the court rulings, Rayamajhi said the Act was

necessary.

Interacting with journalists today, prior to his retirement, the CJ shared the view that the Act was necessary for the judiciary. He also added that no execution of court orders had promoted the state of impunity in the country.

Stating that cumulative amount of fine and sentence imposed by the courts across the country has been increasing in recent years to the tune of Rs 10 billion and 70,000 years jail-term, the CJ said that it was impossible to collect the fine. Jail-terms have been pending since the Rana regime, he added.

He, however, expressed annoyance about the government for not executing verdicts issued by the court in recent years.

“Although we directed the Nepali Army to relocate the cavalry from Singh Durbar two years ago, the order is still not executed,” Rayamajhi said, adding. “Though we are monitoring the execution of clean Bagmati case, the progress is not satisfactory.”

“We found that the government could not avail alternative space for them,” he said. The Nepali Army has sought Rs 500 million from the government to transfer the same but it could not provide the amount. He, however, added that the apex court has achieved progress in settling five-year-old disputes during his tenure. According to him, 464 out of the total 1,000 cases had been settled during his tenure.