Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 2:

The Registrar of the Supreme Court, Shree Prasad Pundit, today accused Chief Justice Hari Prasad Sharma of interfering in his affairs.

“He is the Chief Justice, but wants to perform a registrar’s job,” Pundit told reporters.

“He has not made any landmark judgement in his three-month-old term as the Chief Justice,” Pundit said.

The registrar also accused the Chief Justice of showing interest in petty issues instead of deciding on major constitutional cases.

He said the Chief Justice had tarnished the image of the Judiciary by delivering a controversial speech in Australia. “The speech was not suitable for the Chief Justice,” he said.

The CJ and the Registrar had had differences regarding the execution of their duties.

As a result, the CJ recently decided to send Pundit to the reserve pool and forwarded the decision to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs seeking approval of the Cabinet for the same.

“I will resign from the office but not attend the reserve pool,” Pundit further said.

However, a source close to the Chief Justice said, the Registrar has been sent to the reserve pool, as he has been bypassing the Chief Justice while taking major decisions in judicial service.

“Sometimes he decides to send district court judges in deputation which is the authority of the Chief Justice,” claimed the source.

“He also bypassed the Chief Justice while signing the cards of justices’ provident fund certificates,” the registrar added. The Chief Justice could not be contacted for comments.