Parajuli removed over birth certificates row

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s chief justice was on Wednesday relieved of his post by the judicial council amid a dispute over his multiple birth certificates.

The council sent a letter to Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli, citing inconsistencies in the birth dates mentioned in his citizenship and academic certificates. It said that according to the available certificates, Parajuli should have retired on August 5, 2017 — the day he turned 65. Under Nepalese law, civil servants must retire on reaching the age of 65.

Parajuli’s removal came on the same day that President Bidhya Devi Bhandari was sworn in for her second term — as chief justice, he was entitled to administer the oath of office to her.

The council’s decision was made minutes before the swearing-in ceremony. However, Parajuli went ahead and administered the oath.

His move has opened a fresh can of worms, triggering a debate whether the swearing-in was constitutional and legal. Several legal and constitutional experts have opined that Bhandari should take another oath of office.

The council’s decision followed the controversy over Parajuli’s date of birth and his move to censor the press for reporting on the issue.

Parajuli had been under pressure from other judges to resign and nine judges boycotted the benches assigned to them after the controversy broke.