The contempt of court case against Dr Govinda KC took a new turn on Wednesday with the Supreme Court (SC) decision to investigate the   authenticity of citizenship document and education certificates of Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli.

A two-judge bench of the SC also decided to release Dr KC on the condition that he appear before the court in the next hearing scheduled on February 20.

“This bench orders to present two separate citizenships received by Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli from District Administration Office Kathmandu, documents presented at Judicial Council related to his age, and all the educational certificates,” the written order of SC reads. 

The bench also ordered the concerned side to present all documents related to SC’s order to reinstate Dr Sashi Sharma as Dean of Institute of Medicine (IoM).

Constitutional expert Bipin Adhikari said that CJ Parajuli should now support the investigation process.

CJ Parajuli has been charged of using forged academic documents, maintaining two citizenship certificates from two places and reducing his age to hold the top Judiciary post, among others, by Dr KC in his statement that was recorded in the court on Tuesday. According to sources, even the senior justices at the SC are in favour of investigating the allegations against CJ Parajuli.

 Before he was appointed the Chief Justice, there was a controversy about CJ Parajuli’s citizenship and age.  There are separate dates of birth in his two citizenships taken from Kathmandu District Administration Office.

Senior Advocate Surendra Bhandari said after Wednesday’s hearing that  the court has helped preserve the dignity and respect of judiciary.

“The Supreme Court itself has preserved its prestige and reputation. It is a welcome move,” he said.

CJ Parajuli himself had instructed a SC staff to file a court contempt case against Dr KC, who was critical of the apex court’s controversial rulings that could directly affect the country’s medical education sector.

Lawyers who spoke in favour of KC demanded that CJ Parajuli should face investigation.

“Parajuli received citizenship through a fraudulent process which is against the Citizenship Act. There is no doubt that he is a corrupt, a mafia and a criminal,” said Bhandari, claiming that CJ Parajuli had personally handled all the cases related to medical colleges.

Senior Advocate Shree Hari Aryal claimed that CJ Parajuli used to take bribes through his relatives when he used to work in Appellate and High Court. Advocate Dinesh Tripathi said there are international practices of criticising the conduct of judges and it does not constitute contempt of court. 

Dr KC said he has high regard for court, but CJ Parajuli is a corrupt individual.

“I have high respect for court, but Parajuli is a corrupt person, and he is threatening me and my supporters,” KC said, adding that he has taken the court’s order positively.

CJ under pressure to quit

With the SC decision, CJ Parajuli now faces a moral pressure to resign.

According to legal eagles, he has two options: not taking the executive rights of the SC till the final verdict or resigning following the court’s order for investigation into the charges made by Dr KC.

The decision is entirely up to CJ Parajuli, legal experts said.

Meanwhile the High Court Bar Association Lalitpur has drawn the attention of CJ Parajuli to consider the moral aspects of this decision.