KATHMANDU, March 15: Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli has resigned on Thursday.

CJ Parajuli handed over the resignation letter to President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the latter’s official residence, Sital Niwas today, said the Office of President.

The Judicial Council, through a secretary level decision, Wednesday had terminated CJ Gopal Parajuli of his responsibilities citing that Parajuli has already crossed his age limit of 65 seven months ago on August 5, 2017.

President Bhandari’s oath from sacked CJ Parajuli-valid or invalid?

KATHMANDU, March 14: President Bidya Devi Bhandari took oath of office and secrecy from Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli on Wednesday.

But, moments earlier the oath taking ceremony took place at Sital Niwas, Secretary at the Judicial Council Secretariat, Nirupdhowj Niraula issued a notice, which said CJ Parajuli has been relieved of his responsibility, citing Parajuli had already crossed the retirement age based on his citizenship and academic credentials.

It triggered a wide controversy whether the oath taking of the re-elected President Bhandari from sacked CJ Parajuli is valid or invalid?

According to advocate Om Prakash Aryal, the oath taking could come into question given that the termination letter had already been issued.

The letter, signed by Niraula, stated “according to secretarial level decision of March 14, 2018 respectable Gopal Parajuli has been relieved of his duties as he as crossed the age bar of 65 years on August 5, 2017.”

However, the termination letter had yet not reached at Parajuli’s hand when the oath taking ceremony was held.

Aryal said that Parajuli’s jobs will have legal value until today.

But Parajuli claimed that the decision is illegitimate and Secretary of Judicial Council alone cannot take such decision since Chief Justice is the chief of the Council.

“Council’s Secretary cannot take such decision. It is illegal,” Parajuli told Reporters’ Club Nepal.

“This letter has no meaning. The decision cannot be implemented.”

Some advocates argue that secretariat level decision will be enough to sack Parajuli from his post.

Meanwhile, Judicial Council Secretariat has summoned an emergency meeting following the controversy, which is expected to come with a decision on that matter tomorrow.

On Tuesday, eight justices of the Supreme Court had boycotted case hearing the contempt of court case against Kantipur daily to pressure CJ Parajuli claiming that Parajuli assigned the judges their judicial tasks despite suggesting to stay away from preparing cause list.

The move came after Justice Cholendra Shumser JB Rana boycotted  CJ Parajuli-led seven member full bench stating that CJ Parajuli should have taken retirement on August 5, 2017.

CJ Parajuli last month had issued an order, putting the contempt of court case over the controversy surrounding his date of birth from his own bench, stating that the Kantipur had violated law and constitution by publishing misleading news that defamed court, justices and chief justice.

Parajuli’s moral character has already come into question due to his controversial citizenship certificate and date of birth.

Moreover, the Bar Association issuing a press release had stated that even though the matter of his date of birth and other certificates were settled by the Judicial Council and he was appointed with the recommendation Constitutional Council, he should leave off the judicial and administrative tasks on moral grounds.

NEWS BY DILMAYA DEVKOTA

KATHMANDU, Feb 25: The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the Kantipur Media Group to be present at court to record statement within 72 hours.

A single bench of the Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli on Sunday directed the Kantipur Media Group to appear at SC for statement in a case on contempt of court.

The SC issued such directions while hearing the case lodged by advocate Toyanath Dhungana regarding the news carried out by the Kantipur Media Group on the date of birth of the Chief Justice.

Chairman of Kantipur Media Group, Kailash Sirohiya, Director Swastika Sirohiya, Chief Editor Sudheer Sharma and news writer Krishna Gyawali are directed to come to the SC within 72 hours.

Likewise, the SC has ordered Nepal Press Council to take action on legal ground after studying whether or not Kantipur Media Group abided by journalist code of conduct. RSS

RUKUM, Jan 12: Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli has said that he has already responded to the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee (PHSC) regarding the questions raised about his citizenship and certificate of academic qualifications.

Inaugurating the District Court in Rukum (East) on Friday, CJ Parajuli said that nothing will happen by making unnecessary cries from the road. He also added that he joined the judiciary and was picked as the Chief Justice by being capable.

“I have already submitted the evidences in the required institutions. It is not necessary to exhibit the evidences on the roads,” the CJ said.

CJ Parajuli further said that it would not be possible as some forces were working to belittle the trust towards the judiciary under different pretexts.

Saying that the Judges move ahead based on people’s aspirations, legal norms and values, and system, CJ Parajuli directed the District Court to follow the same system in the days to come ahead as well. RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan 8: Senior orthopedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Dr Govinda KC has begun his 14^th hunger strike on Monday demanding resignation of Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli. He began his fast-unto-death from 4 pm today.

Dr Kc’s move comes following the Supreme Court’s Sunday’s order to reinstate Dr Shashi Sharma as the dean at Institute of Medicine (IoM). Sharma has only four days to complete his tenure.

Organizing a press meet the Teaching Hospital on Monday, Dr KC accused CJ Parajuli of being corrupt and having connection with medical mafia and demanded his resignation and a probe into the conduct.

Dr KC has also demanded the government to form Medical Education Commission and continue the tenure of Dr Jagdish Aryal as the dean at IoM while sacking Sharma.

The TU Executive Council on Jan 10, 2014 had appointed Dr Sharma as the dean. But, after Dr KC’s hunger strike and criticisms and the then Chairman of Interim Election government’s order to hold his appointment, the TU Council had sacked Sharma on Jan 22, 2014.

TOKYO, Sept 18: Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli has arrived here in Japan to participate in the Conference of the Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific.

Supreme Court’s chief registrar Nahakul Subedi, Bhaktapur District Court’s judge Bidur Koirala and SC deputy registrar Ram Prasad Poudel are accompanying the CJ to take part in the 17th session of biennial Conference. The conference that kicked off today will run until the next four days.

Strengthening of judicial affairs, endeavors being undertaken in other countries to promote public trust on judiciary and possibilities for improvements in human resources at judiciary, increase in work efficiency of courts, role of courts in dealing with the family court issues and judicial systems adopting India, China and Japan in the future and family courts will be discussed during the conference.

CJ Parajuli and his team was welcomed at the Tokyo-based Nepali Embassy by the Deputy Chief of Mission Krishna Chandra Aryal.

KATHMANDU, July 17: New Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli has pledged to make justice delivery fast and less expensive.

While assuming office at the Supreme Court following the swearing in ceremony of his oath and secrecy by President Bhandari, the new CJ said was all committed to make the justice delivery prompt and low-cost even by making staff to do overtime.

The serving of notice through an online system, possibility of free service for helpless and reform in judiciary are among his plans as the new CJ, he said on the occasion.

He added that he had prepared a 39-point action plan relating to the judicial reform. The SC would remain in touch with the Nepal Bar Association in this regard, he said, pledging to fulfill his official duty by remaining with the jurisdictions fixed by the constitution.

He said there was widespread public complaint that justice delivery was so slow and he personally believed that slow service was like of no service.

The Parliamentary Special Hearing Committee, Legislature-Parliament on Sunday unanimously proposed the name of Parajuli as the new CJ. He will remain in the post until April, 2018.