Corruption in judiciary worries CJ

Kathmandu, May 18:

Chief Justice Kedar Prasad Giri today told anti-corruption activists that maintaining judicial integrity is the need of the hour.

In a meeting with the representatives of the Transparency International Nepal, the Chief Justice told them that the judiciary is preparing to work with the civil society organisations to curb corruption in the courts and maintain judicial integrity.

“He (CJ) said he would hold discussions with the SC justices about working with the civil society organisations to maintain judicial integrity,” Ashish Thapa, executive director of TI Nepal told this daily.

“We will place the issue before a full court meeting and take appropriate decision,” Thapa quoted the CJ as saying.

In the meeting, the TI Nepal team had demanded that the CJ, with the help of civil society organisations, launch an effective movement against judicial corruption.

Chairman of the TI Nepal Damodar Prasad Gautam, coordinator of TI Nepal Judicial Committee Sarvagya Ratna Tuladhar, members Krishna Prasad Bhandari, Ramesh Nath Dhungel, Meena Acharya and executive director Thapa met the Chief Justice.

The Transparency International team also met Basudev Dhungana, a member of the Judicial Council and dwelt on maintaining clean judiciary through the appointment of capable judges.

Dhungana told the team that there existed some technical difficulties regarding arresting and taking action against some judges just on the basis of information on their involvement in irregularities.

Thapa said discussion was held over the need to amend certain constitutional and legal provisions regarding the Judicial Council for giving it more teeth.