Regmi to resign as chief justice today

KATHMANDU:

Government Chairman Khil Raj Regmi has decided to resign from the post of chief justice tomorrow.

“He will meet President Ram Baran Yadav and tender his resignation,” a highly placed government source told The Himalayan Times on condition of anonymity. According to him, Regmi took the decision after consulting his trusted aides.

“There were two options before him — to take leave till May 30 when he retires from the post of CJ or to resign tomorrow. He chose the second option,” the source said. “He will meet the President and announce his resignation in an address to the nation,” the source added.

The Nepal Bar Association, an umbrella organisation of lawyers, has been accusing him of breaching the principle of independence of judiciary and the separation of powers and checks and balances by

accepting the post of government chairman.

Yesterday, the NBA had threatened to prevent Regmi from rejoining the judiciary, accusing him of misusing power while acting as chief executive of the government.

Regmi had assumed the post of chairman of interim council of ministers on March 14 as per the request of the major political parties to hold the election to the Constituent Assembly despite NBA’s protest. Regmi-led government successfully held CA election on November 19 as determined by the

political parties. Earlier elections were planned to be held in April but the government deferred the poll date for November 19 due to the lack of sufficient preparation to hold polls in April.

Since he assumed the post of government chairman, 109 cases were registered against Regmi in the apex court.

Source: THT