Kathmandu, March 21:

Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Paudel today assured Supreme Court officials that he will initiate action even against judges if they are found guilty of taking bribe.

Paudel said that if his involvement in any irregularities is proved, he is ready to resign. “If anyone proves my involvement in any such case, I will resign,” spokesperson for the Supreme Court Durga Prasad Dawadi quoted CJ Paudel as saying. Dawadi said that the Chief Justice was clear about taking action against anyone found guilty in any corruption case.

The apex court officials had objected Chief Justice Paudel’s interview aired in Nepal 1 Television yesterday. In the interview, Paudel had blamed the court officials for taking bribe, but had protected the judges.

Protesting the Chief Justice’s interview, the court officials halted their jobs from 10 AM to 12 PM today.

As junior court officials did not produce any case files in the benches, judges could not conduct hearings till 12 PM. Later, the Chief Justice called the officials for discussion.

The dispute was resolved following the discussion.

During the television interview, Paudel had claimed that he and the Supreme Court judges are “clean”, but the court officials might have taken bribe.

“I will take action against the court officials after investigating corruption cases as corruption and bribing might have occurred somewhere,” he had said in the interview. The Chief Justice had claimed that corruption cannot be eradicated but can be reduced. “During the meeting, the Chief Justice clarified that his statement did not intend to accuse all officials of involvement in bribing. The Chief Justice said he will take action against any official if he is found guilty of taking bribe,” Dawadi added.