Full court summoned by Chief Justice Rana begins

KATHMANDU: A full court meeting called by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana began a while ago at the Supreme Court (SC).  The meeting is scheduled to endorse a guideline relating to the assignment of cases through a system of drawing lots.  Sources shared that 18 dissident justices have also attended Thursday's fullcourt meeting. Earlier, the justices decided to boycott the full court summoned by CJ Rana.  The justices have been boycotting the benches formed by Rana and hearing only the cases relating to the habeas corpus writ petitions for the past few weeks. In a bid to ‘safeguard the apex court’s sanctity, the Nepal Bar Association (NBA), an umbrella organization of the legal practitioners has been staging continued protests asking the Chief Justice (CJ) Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana to step down and give a way out.  Rana’s fellow justices at the court are also seeking his resignation amid the reports that he [Rana] claimed a share in the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led Cabinet.  CJ Rana was embroiled with controversies after he reportedly demanded a share in the incumbent Cabinet. Gajendra Hamal, a non-parliamentarian, was appointed the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies on ‘CJ’s quota’. Hamal, a Congress leader, however, stepped down as the minister after questions were raised over his ‘controversial appointment’. The justices other than CJ Rana, who were boycotting all the benches assigned to them, however, began hearing the habeas corpus writ petitions amid the public outcry.  Though Rana has been assigning all sorts of cases, the justices have skipped all benches other than habeas corpus.