A seven-judge full bench of the Supreme Court (SC) on Sunday began hearing on contempt of court case against Kantipur daily. The SC administration has informed that hearing will be continued on Monday. 

The full bench is handling two separate contempt of court cases filed against Kantipur daily and anti-corruption crusader Dr Govinda KC together. The hearing was postponed for Monday after advocates from petitioners’ side expressed their views on both the contempt of court cases. 

The bench comprises Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli and Justices Om Prakash Mishra, Cholendra SJB Rana, Deepak Kumar Karki, Kedar Prasad Chalise, Saradha Prasad Ghimire and Tej Bahadur KC. 

Advocate Toya Nath Dhungana had filed a contempt of court case against Kantipur Publications Chairman and Managing Director Kailash Sirohiya, Director Swastika Sirohiya, Kantipur daily Editor-in-Chief Sudheer Sharma and reporter Krishna Gyawali. An official at the SC had filed contempt of court case against Dr KC.

After recording statements of Kantipur members on Tuesday, a division bench of Justices Bam Kumar Shrestha and Damber Bahadur Shahi had decided to send the case to a full bench citing the gravity of the matter.

Earlier, CJ Parajuli’s move to forward the case involving himself to his own bench and issue an order had drawn widespread condemnation for it was against the principles of natural justice.

A contempt of court case was lodged against Kantipur after the daily published news reports related to inconsistencies in Parajuli’s birth date in official documents and academic qualifications.