Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) has called reports of impeachment against Supreme Court (SC) Justice Deepak Raj Joshi mere rumors.
A secretariat member of CPN ruled out impeachment of Joshi. "Talks about impeachment are just rumors," the member told Setopati.
The party collected signatures of lawmakers on Thursday reportedly to start impeachment of Joshi who has resumed duty as justice as after being rejected for the post of chief justice by the special committee for parliamentary hearing.
Joshi was rejected by the parliamentary hearing committee on August 3 on the basis of two-third majority. CPN had expected Joshi to resign after being rejected by its lawmakers but Joshi stayed on leave since August 5.
He welcomed newly appointed Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra to the Apex Court as the senior most justice when the latter reached the SC to assume office on September 10. He reported for duty the next day but was not given any case. He was assigned cases for the first time since his return on September 13 and has been conducting hearings ever since.
The party with almost two-third majority in the parliament has taken return of Joshi as defiance of its power. Joshi is now the senior most justice after appointment of Mishra as chief justice. The senior most justice serves as a member of the Judicial Council, that recommends justices and investigates complaints against them, and the constitutional bench. CPN is also uneasy about Joshi staying in the Judicial Council.
CPN lawmakers, however, claimed that registration of impeachment motion in the parliament has been postponed after Joshi agreed to resign within a week.
Law Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal also hinted at Joshi's resignation when he came to attend swearing-in of newly elected chairmen of parliamentary committees on Friday. "It will be resolved this way if it is not resolved that way," Dhakal commented implying that Joshi will be impeached if he does not resign.
A party source claimed that minister Dhakal has clearly told Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra that he will not attend meeting of Judicial Council if Joshi attends it as the senior most justice of SC.
