KATHMANDU: President of the Nepal Bar Association Prem Bahadur Khadka today evidently accused judges of being the ‘root cause’ of corruption and irregularities in the judiciary.

“But the lawyers are not the root cause of corruption and irregularities,” Khadka said, adding, “If the judges do not take bribes the lawyers do not offer them.” Khadka, however, did not cite any evidence to prove his allegation to the judges.

He, however, said the lawyers have always been facing allegation of being corrupt from the judges.

Khadka was speaking at a public function where Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha, former Chief Justice Anup Raj Sharma, senior justices Khil Raj Regmi, Attorney General Prof Bharat Bahadur Karki and senor advocates were present.

“How can a lawyer offer bribe if a judge is honest?” he asked. The programme was organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association to welcome newly appointed Chief Justice Shrestha and to bid farewell to the outgoing Chief Justice Sharma.

Stating that the corrupt judges are not supposed hold the dignified post, Khadka also called the Chief Justice to take action against them.

“If lawyers are involved in malpractices we will seize their licenses but you should also be ready to sack the judges who involved in corruption and irregularities,” Khadka added.

Stating that he is committed to reform the judiciary, Chief Justice Shrestha also expressed his commitment to do needful to implement the report recently prepared by a panel under his coordination.

Stating that there are several challenges in the reform process of the judiciary, Sherestha said that he is ready to face such challenges.

He said that he would work to rebuild the image of the judiciary since people’s trust in the judiciary has fallen down. “Such a situation is possible only by providing prompt service to the public,” he added.

Saying that the corrupt judges have still been enjoying facilities, former General Secretary of NBA Hari Krishna Karki and senior advocate Khem Narayan Dhungana urged the CJ to take action against the corrupt judges.

Sher Bahadur KC, former vice president of the NBA, called lawyers and judges to protect the independence of the judiciary saying that autocratic forces still wanted to keep the judiciary under their control.

Stating that the promulgation of the Constitution through the Constituent Assembly is impossible as the CA’s tenure has been coming to an end shortly, KC said that promulgating new statute by extending CA’s tenure would be unconstitutional.

“The CA should adopt the Interim Constitution as the NBA would not accept any other options,” KC added.