Kathmandu, December 28:

Appellate Court Chief Judge Paramananda Jha is yet to receive a copy of an investigation report, based on which the Judicial Council (JC) had downgraded him from Supreme Court judge to the present post 16 months back.

“I have been demanding a copy of the report since after the panel submitted the same to the JC around two years ago but the council is yet to provide a copy of the report depriving me of my right to information,” Jha added.

Currently Jha is posted at the Judicial Council’s reserve pool after lawyers and local people protested his posting as Chief Judge of the Biratnagar Appellate Court. Jha has not been given any work and is awaiting retirement.

Supreme Court Justice Anup Raj Sharma had headed the team that investigated Jha’s controversial decision to release a drug peddler Dil Bahadur Gurung and had submitted the report to the JC. The panel had suggested the JC to either sack or to demote him from his post.

The JC had decided to demote him for working against the judicial norms.

“I have met the JC members and even the Chief Justice but no body has shown any interest regarding my right to information,” Jha said.

“Many persons have been asking the reasons of my demotion, what reply am I to give them?” Jha asked. “Should I not answer the people about why I was punished?” he said adding, “I have become a victim of injustice.”

JC spokesperson, Nahakul Subedi said that he has no idea about Jha’s demand. “I don’t know about any demand from him.”