How chats between top court justices and a so-called fixer have cast doubt on judicial independence and propriety
Summary
Messages between Supreme Court justices and a self-described fixer have triggered serious questions over judicial independence, propriety and possible political interference in a case involving Rohit Gupta. The controversy has also put Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma and other top legal figures under scrutiny, with calls for an impartial investigation.
Key Points
- Inam Sapkota claimed to represent the prime minister and contacted Justice Hari Phuyal about how the court should rule in Rohit Gupta’s case.
- Phuyal and Justice Shreekanta Paudel dismissed one petition but granted Gupta bail in another, after which Phuyal exchanged messages with Sapkota and later agreed to meet him.
- The controversy has raised broader concerns about judicial independence, informal political influence, and declining public confidence in Nepal’s courts.
- The Nepal Bar Association has demanded a transparent investigation, while the Supreme Court’s full-court meeting ended without a concrete decision.
