Nepal Bar Association President Prof Dr Bijaya Prasad Mishra has objected to plans to remove the lottery-based case assignment system implemented at the Supreme Court.
Speaking at an interaction organized in Kathmandu on the topic “Mental Well-being and Stress Management,” Mishra expressed opposition to efforts to scrap the lottery-based bench assignment system.
He warned that replacing the lottery system with a process in which the chief justice personally assigns cases would push the judiciary toward political influence.
He also warned of a strong protest movement if the lottery-based system currently in place at the Supreme Court is removed. Raising questions about the appointment process of the chief justice, he remarked that a practice has begun in which individuals favored by the prime minister are appointed through the Constitutional Council.
"Currently, there are talks about removing the lottery system in the Supreme Court. There is another anxiety about what kind of protest to launch if it is removed. Now, one doesn't even need sacrifice or dedication to become the chief justice. A practice has begun within the Constitutional Council to appoint whoever the prime minister prefers. Has a trend developed where someone favored by the prime minister can become chief justice? Should this be accepted or abolished?” he said.
He also commented that thousands of people are mobilized to label anyone who criticizes the government as a “stooge.”
“Nowadays, if someone speaks against the government, ten thousand people are mobilized to call that person a stooge. Even at this time, we must not lose our judgment. It is lawyers who must strengthen our judges even in times like these,” he said.
He said that the judiciary is currently facing a grave situation and stressed that legal professionals must not lose their sense of judgment during such times.
According to him, the responsibility of strengthening the courts and judges also lies with legal professionals.
- News Agency Nepal
