Nepal's Communist govt undermines judiciary, democracy; alleges opposition

The opposition Nepali Congress today alleged that the Communist government led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has undermined democracy and independence of judiciary by rejecting acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshee's nomination for the post of Chief Justice.

The Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has majority in the Parliamentary Hearing Committee (PHC) which rejected Joshee's name by a two-third majority through a voting process boycotted by Nepali Congress (NC) lawmakers on Friday.

The PHC's rejection has undermined democracy and independence of judiciary, the NC said in a statement.

The Constitutional Council headed by Oli had nominated Joshee but his party's lawmakers at the PHC rejected the recommendation which is not appropriate, the NC said.

"Their prime minister recommends a person for the post but some of the party's lawmakers reject him. The NC was not talking about one person. We are talking about the process and the institution," NC's joint general secretary Prakash Sharan Mahat said.

The NC will question the Chief Justice's nomination process by the Constitutional Council in Parliament tomorrow, said NC lawmaker Rajan KC.

"If Joshee was not deemed fit, why did the Constitutional Council nominate him for the Chief Justice's post?" he said, adding that the issue also raises a question on Oli's morality.

Lawmaker Prakash Rasaili Snehi alleged that the Communist government was attacking the judiciary from the party as well as from Parliament.

"They are attacking the separation of powers, which poses a threat to democracy as well," Snehi said.

There is a provision in the Constitution that the Chief Justice nominee should go through the PHC after the Constitutional Council recommends his name.