Supreme Justice boycotts full bench

Supreme Court Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana has boycotted full-bench saying Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli had already crossed his retirement age last August. Delivering his written statement, Justice Rana- a member of the full bench that has been conducting hearing on the contempt of court case against Kantipur Daily and Dr. Govinda KC, said he cannot provide justice sitting alongside a retired Chief Justice and left the bench. The second day of the case hearing, which was originally scheduled for 11 am, could not begin till 12 pm. Meanwhile, member of the bench, Justice Rana came and expressed his dissenting opinion on the case. Justice Rana was of opinion that according to the birth certificates of CJ Parajuli, shown in course of discussion on Sunday, had two birth dates- one in 1952 and another in 1954. As per the system of Judicial Council Act, CJ Parajuli had to be retired on August 5, 2017. The full bench led by CJ Parajuli had justices including Om Prakash Mishra, Dipak Kumar Karki, Kedar Prasad Chaalise, Shaaradaa Prasad Ghimire and Tej Bahadaur KC alongside Justice Rana on Sunday.