Kathmandu, September 18:

Lawyers today said the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to suspend the license of senior advocate Bishwo Kanta Mainali has provoked them and they would protest the decision.

The Supreme Court decided to suspend Mainali’s licence today. This is the first time

in Nepal’s judicial history that the SC court suspended any advocate’s licence.

Mainali’s licence was suspended for accusing the judges of involvement in corruption.

Nepal Bar Association vice president Hari Prasad Uprety said the apex court’s decision was unfortunate and it had compelled the lawyers to go against the decision.

“This will widen the rift between the apex court and the lawyers,” said the vice president of the umbrella organisations of some 12,000 advocates across the nation.

Another senior advocate Harihar Dahal said the SC move might boomerang on the apex court. “The decision has surprised us and it will stir lawyers to launch protest against the SC,” he said.

“The move is also against the natural justice as the apex court has taken such a step

without even seeking an explanation from the person concerned and the NBA,” he said.

In a bid to decide on further step in the light of the decision, the Nepal Bar Association has called the meetings of its working committee and advisor’s committee.

“The NBA will discuss on the move ahead,” Dahal said. “I hope the NBA meeting will discuss it

seriously,” added Dahal, a former NBA president.

President of Constitutional Lawyers’ Forum Tikaram Bhattarai also expressed similar views. “The SC’s action is unconstitutional and we will challenge it,” he said.

Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision, Mainali had said that he was worried about the decision of the judges to boycott the hearings today.

“The judges are not members of trade unions. They should maintain their dignity themselves,” Mainali added He further added that the apex court had authority to take action against him on the contempt charge but the public should not suffer from the judges’ action.