All major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu Valley on Sunday have given the topmost priority to cover the new political scenario created after the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee rejected Acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshee for the vacant position of Chief Justice on Friday. Joshee’s decision to take a 15-day leave, his appeal for an independent probe against charges lebelled against him, and the main opposition party Nepali Congress’ decision about the issue have been featured on the front pages of major newspapers. Likewise, the papers have also published commentaries and analyses about what should be solutions for the stalemate.
Few other political, sociocultural and economic issues have also been featured on the front pages of major broadsheets today.
Important
Mishra to take charge of Supreme Court as Joshee demands probe
Acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshee on Saturday held a meeting with President Bidya Devi Bhandari and informed her that he will stay on leave for next 15 days handing over the responsibility to lead the Supreme Court to seniormost Justice Om Prakash Mishra, according to newspaper reports.
Rajdhani says Joshee wants to stay on leave till the Constitutional Council recommends a new name for the position of Chief Justice.
Naya Patrika informs the Council is awaiting a formal letter from the Committee to move ahead with the next nomination. The letter will be sent to the Council on Sunday, adds the report.
Meanwhile, Joshee issued a press statement decrying the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee’s decision to reject his name for the position of Chief Justice, and demanded that his academic credentials be examined by a competent authority to check if they are genuine or fake. Earlier, the Committee had noted that his certificates were ‘suspicious’.
The ruling Nepal Communist Party, on the other hand, has warned of filing an impeachment motion against Joshee if he does not resign, Annapurna Post reports in its lead story.
Nepali Congress protests PHSC decision
The main opposition party Nepali Congress has interpreted the Committee’s decision to reject Joshee as an attempt to ‘control’ the judiciary and has decided to ‘internationalise’ issue, according to Annapurna Post.
An emergency meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee held at the President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Baluwatar made the decision.
Quoting the party’s leader Argun Narsingha KC, a highlighted story in Rajdhani says the party will raise questions on the moral basis against the Committee’s decision as Joshee’s name was recommended unanimously by the Constitutional Council headed by Prime Minister Oli and lawmakers of Oli’s party rejected him.
Ignored
Federal Police Act will cost Nepal billions
Karobar reports in its lead story reports that the government is planning to formulate and implement new Federal Police Act; and if it gets endorsed as it is, it will cost the country millions.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has finalised the draft and forwarded it to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
Farmers affected by Koshi Barrage still awaiting compensation
It has been more than 50 years since Nepal and India jointly constructed the Koshi Barrage in eastern Nepal. However, people living nearby the structure, who land was acquired by the government for the project, are still waiting for the compensation for their land, reports Nagarik in its lead story.
The number of such farmers’ families living in Saptari, Sunsari and Udayapur districts is thousands, according to the report.
112 parties to face Election Commission’s penalty
A four-column story in Gorkhapata reports that as many as 112 political parties that have been registered with the Election Commission are about to fake a penalty of Rs 5,000 for their failure to submit property details of their officials and members.
The Commission recognises total 125 parties, but only 13 of them have submitted property details on time, according to the Commission.
Nepal seeks more aid from donors
Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada left the country for the United States on Friday so as to lobby with Nepal’s donor agencies including the World Bank to increase the aid, according to The Kathmandu Post.
Khatiwada is visiting Washington to discuss the World Bank’s 2019-2023 Country Partnership Framework for Nepal, but he is also scheduled to meet senior officials of the International Monetary Fund, the USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Interesting
Bank-hospital partnership for ‘clients’ health’
A brief story in Abhiyan reports that banks and financial institutions have begun establishing partnerships with hospitals in a bid to provide easy health services to their clients. In past one month, eight banks have established partnerships with eight hospitals of Kathmandu Valley, according to the report.
