Acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshi has claimed that he instructed Judicial Council Secretary Nripa Dhwaj Niraula to update date of birth of CJ Gopal Parajuli which led to the latter's 'sacking' after a new date of birth was found.
Joshi, who is also a member of the Judicial Council as the senior-most justice of Supreme Court (SC), claimed so while talking with the media after assuming office as acting CJ on Thursday.
He also added that he was informally in communication with secretary Niraula during the age controversy of Parajuli.
Parajuli was relieved of duty on the issue of age dispute by secretary Niraula on Wednesday. Nirauala had issued a letter informing that Parajuli had retired on August 5, 2017 after crossing the age limit of 65 years and was no longer the CJ.
Joshi, who set up benches at the SC as acting CJ on Thursday, also claimed that secretary Niraula was right to sack Parajuli. "He can. It is the duty of secretary to update the record according to the law," he pointed.
Joshi, however, did not answer why he had not opposed when Parajuli changed his date of birth through a Judicial Council meeting in which Joshi was also present as a member.
