KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has expressed serious concern regarding the incident where former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana was taken from his home at midnight and held for approximately 10 hours.
Police officials reportedly took Rana from his residence on the night of Sept. 26 and detained him at the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office in Teku before releasing him to his family the following morning.
Following an emergency full-court meeting, Supreme Court spokesperson and joint registrar Arjun Prasad Koirala issued a statement emphasizing that the treatment of former chief justices, judges, and judicial personnel-who are integral parts of the independent judiciary-by state agencies must be handled with sensitivity and seriousness. The court reiterated that the Constitution of Nepal establishes an independent, impartial, and competent judiciary as a fundamental pillar of the democratic governance system.
The Supreme Court stated that for the protection of every Nepali citizen’s individual freedom and fundamental right to live with dignity, state authorities must adhere strictly to established legal procedures when taking any individual into custody. The court warned that actions taken without following due process risk being arbitrary and are inconsistent with the values of a democratic system.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court urged all stakeholders to refrain from linking judicial proceedings or court actions to any former officials. The court clarified that it remains committed to ensuring that all judicial functions are carried out without any internal or external influence.
