Supreme court seeks CJ Parajuli’s citizenship and academic credentials

KATHMANDU, Jan 10: The Supreme Court has issued an order to bring a copy of both the citizenship certificates of Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli and also his academic credentials.

The division bench of Justices Pursottam Bhandari and Bam Kumar Shrestha issued the order on Wednesday following a hearing in a case of contempt of court filed against TUTH Orthopaedic Dr Govinda KC. The court has also sought a copy of the decision taken by the Judicial Council in relation to a case concerning the age of the CJ, including copies of the two citizenship certificates that he acquired from the Kathmandu District Administration.

Dr KC had raised questions over the citizenship certificates and academic accreditation of the Chief Justice while recording his statement today. Furthermore, the order calls for submission of the files of the verdict issued earlier with the involvement of the CJ in reinstating Prof Dr Sashi Sharma as the Dean of TU, Institute of Medicine.

It may be noted that Dr KC was released on a general date following the hearing. A case of contempt of court had been filed against Dr KC after he began a hunger strike demanding the resignation of CJ Parajuli, who had reinstated Prof Sharma to the post of IOM Dean.

Dr KC was then arrested as per an order of the court and presented before it on Tuesday morning. The hearing was completed for today and the next has been scheduled for February 20.

Senior advocates Shyam Kharel, Raman Kumar Shrestha, Kumar Regmi and advocates Tika Bahadur Hamal, Shiva Prasad Rijal, Madhav Kumar Basnet, Shiva Kumar Yadav, Shova Karki and others had pleaded on behalf of the petitioner.

Likewise, defending Dr KC in the case were senior advocates Dr Surendra Bhandari, Dinesh Tripathi, Ekraj Bhandari, Gopal Siwakoti and advocates Bijaya Mishra, Om Prasad Aryal, Indra Aryal among others.

In his statement following the order, Dr KC said that his struggle for justice would continue. “I will continue to fight until the Chief Justice resigns,” he said. RSS