Tax evasion slur on NBA raises hackles

Kathmandu, March 20:

The Nepal Bar Association has decided to draw the attention of the Chief Justice and members of the Judicial Council to the allegations levelled by the Judiciary Officers’ Society (JOS) against the lawyers. The judicial officers’ body had yesterday said the lawyers were evading taxes and were incompetent for appointment as judges in appellate courts.

“We have decided to draw the attention of the CJ and JC members to their subordinate officials’ accusation against the lawyers,” NBA president Bishwo Kanta Mainali told this daily. The NBA held a meeting today to discuss on the appointment of judges from legal practitioners. The meeting was attended by senior advocates, and former NBA presidents and general secretaries.

Accusing lawyers of evading taxes and being less competent than the court officials, the JOS had urged the JC not to appoint lawyers in the posts of appellate judges.

“They can demand cent per cent quota for themselves, but they do not have the right to level baseless charges against the lawyers and say that the lawyers cannot be appointed as appellate judges,” Mainali added.

Senior advocates Kamal Narayan Das, Shreehari Aryal, Shambhu Thapa, Harihar Dahal, Mahadev Prasad Yadav, Laxmi Bahadur Nirala, Badri Bahadur Karki, Daman Nath Dhungana and Arjun Lamsal, who attended the meeting, refuted the JOS’ allegations.

“Since we have passed a decision to demand 50 per cent quota for lawyers while appointing judges, we will submit our proposal to JC and express our concern to the CJ and the JC members about the humiliating remarks of the JOS,” Mainali said, adding that the JC had to maintain the discipline of their subordinate officials.

“We condemn such degrading comments against the NBA and the lawyers,” Supreme Court Bar Association Secretary Surendra Thapa said.