KATHMANDU: The Judicial Council (JC) today formed a single-member probe panel

to investigate corruption complaints against a number of judges.

The Supreme Court Justice Top Bahadur Magar-led panel has been given 45 days to complete the probe and submit a report.

According to JC secretary Jivan Hari Adhikary, more than 11 judges of Appellate Courts and District Courts are under the scanner.

Judicial Council meeting chaired by incumbent chief justice Ram Prasad Shrestha took the decision to this effect.

All ex-officio members, Law and Justice Minister Prem Bahadur Singh,

Justice Khil Raj Regmi

and senior advocates Moti Kaji Sthapit and Basudev Dhungana were present in the meeting.

According to Adhikary, 11 complaints need thorough investigation.

A member of the council said the cases were of serious nature and they

have been forwarded

for investigation.

The cases involve

court decisions under

influence or bribe.

The judges are under scanner for their verdicts on banking and land transaction disputes.

The JC has formed the probe panel as per the

Article 113(5) of the

Constitution.

It has not made public the names of the judges, nor has it suspended

any of them.

“Since it is an initial investigation, we have not suspended anyone,” said Adhikary. “If the probe panel finds any judge guilty, he will be suspended and his name will be published in the Nepal Gazette.”

JC has found other 54 complaints baseless and said that they required no further investigation.

According to the Judicial Council, five complaints are under consideration.

These complaints were related to the judges of the Supreme Court, appellate courts and district courts.