Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana has transferred three Special Court judges to two different high courts in a move that is seen as part of his action against “controversial” judges.

Judges Ratna Bahadur Bagchand and Chandi Raj Dhakal have been transferred to Jumla while Narayan Prasad Pokhrel has been sent to Rajbiraj.

The transfer decision, taken on Sunday, however, is yet to be endorsed by the Judicial Council.

“The Judicial Council is yet to discuss the transfers of the judges,” Law Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal, also a member of the Judicial Council, told the Post. “The council has to endorse the transfer decisions.”

Pushpa Raj Pandey, spokesperson for the Special Court, confirmed the transfers.

“The chief justice has deputed three judges of the Special Court to two different courts,” Pandey said.

According to a member of the Judicial Council, the judges were transferred following complaints against them.

Sources at the Judicial Council claimed that these judges had met with the mediators and maintained contacts with the parties in the cases.

Since assuming office, Chief Justice Rana, who also heads the Judicial Council, has vowed to effect reforms in the judiciary.

Earlier, Rana had recalled nine judges from the Biratnagar High Court to the Judicial Council.

On January 21, the Judicial Council decided to recall Kul Ratna Bhurtel, chief judge of the Biratnagar High Court, to its secretariat, as part of action against him for his role in releasing the suspects of a gold smuggling case on bail.