Nepal’s Special Court Chief Changed After 11 Months

Nepal’s Judicial Council has changed the leadership of the Special Court after nearly 11 months. The council’s meeting on Thursday transferred Special Court Chief Justice Sudarshan Dev Bhatta to the High Court in Surkhet.

Justice Bhatta, who took charge of the Special Court in Bhadra 2082, has been replaced by Justice Basudev Acharya, who is currently serving at the Supreme Court. The government has been advised to appoint Justice Acharya as the new chief of the Special Court.

Justice Acharya’s Background

Justice Acharya was previously serving as a judge at the High Court in Butwal. He and another judge, Tejanarayan Poudel, had ordered the release of Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane from jail on 3 Poush.

The court had accepted a bank guarantee of Rs 2.74 crore and ordered Lamichhane’s release. The order was made despite the district court’s earlier decision.

Lamichhane was released from jail and later merged his party with Balen Shah’s group and contested in the parliamentary elections in Falgun.

Transfer Decision

Justice Bhatta’s transfer has been seen as significant, as he was one of the four judges appointed to the Special Court in Soun 2082. The other judges, including Bidur Koirala, have retained their positions.

The Judicial Council typically transfers judges every two years. The council has followed this practice in the Special Court as well.

According to sources, Justice Bhatta’s appointment as the chief of the Special Court was made during the previous government’s tenure, after consultations between then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

‘The appointment was made at a time when there were some issues, and the decision to transfer the leadership of the Special Court was made after some verdicts and orders,’ a source said.

Justice Bhatta and Justice Acharya were both appointed as judges of the High Court on 29 Pous 2073, during the tenure of then-Chief Justice Sushila Karki.