Biratnagar, May 18

Lack of space in the courtroom at the District Court of Morang has created problems in the hearing of cases related to the smuggling of 33 kg of gold and a related murder.

Ever since the hearing started on the cases in the bench of Judge Narayan Prasad Sharma, Bench 6 remains overcrowded due to a high number of the accused and lawyers pleading on their behalf.

Lack of space in the courtroom has also disappointed the kin of the defendants who are having a hard time to witness the court proceedings. They are said to be taking turns to listen to their lawyers’ pleadings as the room can’t even accommodate all defence lawyers and government attorneys.

Meanwhile, on day 9 of the hearing today, four lawmakers pleaded on behalf of the defendants. While advocate Ishwor Poudel and Sudip Kumar Pokharel pleaded on behalf of former DIG Govind Niraula, senior advocate Bipulendra Chaktrabarti pleaded on Rajendra Kumar Shakya’s behalf. Similarly, advocate Bikash Thapa pleaded on behalf of Rajan Kumar, Hemanta Gautam, Balkrishna Shrestha, Tularam Tharu and Rajendra Kumar Shakya.

Of the 68 lawyers, who have got their names registered to plead on the cases, so far 46 have completed their pleadings.