A full court meeting of the Supreme Court on Monday called for an impartial investigation into recent media reports linking justices and a middleman, urging the relevant authorities to establish the facts and make their findings public as soon as possible.

The meeting also expressed concern over reports in recent days involving the names of Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma and other Supreme Court justices.

“We urge the concerned authorities to conduct an impartial and independent investigation, in accordance with the Constitution and the law, into matters reported in the media and make their findings public as soon as possible,” the court said in its decision.

The judiciary has come under scrutiny following reports of an alleged conversation between a Supreme Court justice and middleman Inam Sapkota, in which Sharma was also mentioned.

The full court meeting was called to discuss the reports. It began at 9am and concluded shortly before the court issued its statement. Sharma and all other sitting Supreme Court justices attended.

The top court also urged the media to refrain from publishing or broadcasting reports that could prejudice anyone or hamper the administration of justice before the investigation is concluded.