Kathmandu, August 4

The Judicial Council said it would not review its punitive action against erring judges of Biratnagar High Court in gold smuggling case.

Spokesperson for the JC Man Bahadur Karki said JC’s punitive action against BHC judges had nothing to do with SC’s recent orders that upheld BHC’s decision. The SC, which heard petitions filed by the government and defendants against BHC’s order, overturned the order against one defendant Mahavir Prasad Golyan but upheld the lower court’s verdict in respect to 33 other  defendants.

JC took action against erring judges for their conduct, not for orders issued.  When a judge who is to decide a divorce case sits with parties of the case and indulges in give and take, such conduct is objectionable and warrants JC’s action, Karki argued. He said the JC’s action was taken as per the probe committee’s report.

The three judges who faced the JC’s wrath were Thir Bahadur Karki, Umesh Kumar Singh and Sadhuram Sapkota. Singh was sacked, but Karki and Sapkota were served warning letter.

The JC had summoned eight BHC judges six months ago and deprived them of judicial duties after they were accused of passing erroneous order in the 33.5 kilogram gold smuggling and Sanam Shakya murder case.