Speaking to the media persons after assuming office on Wednesday, Chief Justice Shrestha said that state organs should not compete, interfere and politicize each other.
"Judiciary should be independent. Independence of the judiciary should be guaranteed by the constitution," said Shrestha.
Shrestha also informed that he would appeal to the Constituent Assembly to accommodate the suggestions of the full court regarding the provisions related to judiciary on the draft of the new constitution.
"Regarding the provisions related to the formation of the Constitutional Court, structure of Judicial Council and appointment of judges, I will appeal to the Constituent Assembly as per the report submitted and discussed in the full court recently," said Shrestha.
The full court recently suggested maintaining a majority of justices in the Judicial Council and setting a constitutional bench instead of Constitutional Court in the new constitution. He also demanded administrative and financial autonomy to the judiciary.
"The bases of the judicial independence should be maintained in the constitution. As per the practices in democratic and developed countries, judiciary should have autonomy in terms of administration and finance," said Shrestha.
Shrestha's reform plans
Shrestha said that he will give top priority to appointment of justices at the Supreme Court. "The total number of cases at the Supreme Court reached around 27,000 in this fiscal year. Around 22,000 cases are yet to be settled at the Supreme Court. As the work load is growing every year, judiciary is facing a crunch of human resources," said Shrestha.
"Interim Constitution provides for 15 permanent justices and other ad hoc justices at the Supreme Court. However, there are currently only 11 justices. I will take the initiative to fill the vacant positions," said Shrestha.
Shrestha said he will take the initiative for establishing Judicial Oversight Committee, a committee to keep a watch on irregularities and violations of codes within the judiciary. "I have been reading the news of irregularities in the judiciary. I am aware that the judiciary should not have a dark image in press and public. Judicial Oversight Committee could be a solution," said Shrestha.
Likewise, Shrestha vowed to maintain a system in courts so that service seekers will not have to wait for more than an hour for basic services like taking court dates or taking duplicates of court documents.
Shrestha also said that the Supreme Court would give top priority to settling cases related to corruption and development works. "Corruption cases should not remain in the court for long. Likewise, delay in settling cases related to development works might increase the cost of projects. Such cases would be settled with priority," said Shrestha.
"To lower the number of unsettled cases, review petitions will be included on the cause list the very next day they are registered," he added.
Shrestha said the Supreme Court would study the inconsistency of court verdicts and contradictory precedents, if there are any. "There are complaints about the inconsistency of orders and contradictory precedents. Judges might have different approaches but that should not remain for long. The Supreme Court would conduct a study and if there are such contradictions, such issues would be presented to a larger bench," said Shrestha.
Likewise, he said that reconstruction of the infrastructures damaged by the earthquake would also be his top priority. Shrestha became the 25th chief justice after President Ram Baran Yadav administered him oath of office on Wednesday morning.
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