Bar-Bench Row Taints Justice System

Judiciary in Nepal is not free from one or other kind of controversies. The tenure of the outgoing chief justice Biswambhar Prasad Shrestha was more or less a smooth sailing. However, the tussle between the Bar and the Bench over the nominations of justices for the Supreme Court (SC) which erupted around the end of his term rendered his exit not very graceful. It has exposed the deficiencies stalking the legitimacy of the judiciary. The Bar-Bench conflict peaked recently when contempt of court case was filed against the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) president who had criticised the process of the selection of justices for the vacant positions of the SC. The court administration had filed the case following the decision of the court’s full bench. However, the conflict has taken a positive twist as the contempt of court case filed against the Bar president has been withdrawn.