KATHMANDU, Jan 9: In a dramatic new development, police on Monday arrested Dr Govinda KC, who had started his 14th fast-unto-death, against a recent apex court verdict reinstating sacked dean of Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine (IOM) Shashi Sharma.
Police arrested the crusader for medical sector reform from TU Teaching Hospital at Maharajgunj, where he was on hunger strike, at about 8 pm Monday. The apex court earlier in the day summoned him to the court at 9 am Tuesday to face a contempt of court case. Dr KC is being kept in detention at Metropolitan Police Circle Office, Singha Durbar, following the arrest. Dr KC has threatened to stage a fast-unto-death against Chief Justice Parajuli, wherever he is held by police .
The government led by Khil Raj Regmi had sacked Dr Sharma on January 22, 2014, under the pressure of another hunger strike by Dr KC. Dr Sharma will have only three days in office left following the court’s reinstatement order.
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The apex court order comes after an official of the Supreme Court, Netra Bandu Paudel, lodged a suo moto contempt of court charge-sheet against Dr KC shortly after he alleged that Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli was ‘corrupt’ and was siding with ‘ the mafia’, during a press conference held at 2 pm to announce his protest action.
Asking if there was any reason not to take action against him, the apex court directed the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police Headquarters to arrest and produce Dr KC before the court at the given hour on Tuesday, in order to proceed with the case.
A single bench of Justice Dambar Bahadur Shahi issued the arrest order following hearings conducted Monday immediately after the case was lodged a few hours after Dr KC’s allegations against the CJ. Expressing dissatisfaction with a judgment handed down by CJ Parajuli and Justice Deepak Kumar Karki on Sunday reinstating Dr Sharma in the position of IOM dean, Dr KC had organized a press conference, announcing his plan to start a hunger strike against the apex court verdict starting 4 pm.
Justice Shahi’s order states: “In view of the press statement published in the name of defendant Govinda KC and other published materials in various online newspapers it seems that contemptuous speeches have been mentioned undermining and scandalizing this court and subordinate courts, against the constitution and the other laws, and also undermining the judiciary, the judges and the justice system of Nepal. Therefore why should action not be taken against him? Be it corresponded to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police Headquarters to arrest and submit the defendant before this court at 9 am on January 9, 2018.”
The apex court has initiated the process against Dr KC and scheduled a petition in the criminal case list. Pleading on behalf of the petitioner, advocates Shyam Prasad Kharel, Upendra Keshari Neupane, Raman Kumar Shrestha, Laxman Thapaliya and Deepak Kumar Bista sought that the apex court take serious action against KC, who allegedly undermined the court order in a prima facie manner.
Issuing a press statement during his press conference Monday, Dr KC accused CJ Parajuli of taking sides with the mafia. Dr KC had presented a seven-point demand. The demands include the resignation of CJ Parajuli, immediate formation of the Medical Education Commission, appointment of the IOM dean on the basis of seniority and cancellation of the order reinstating Dr Sharma, action against Tribhuvan University officials who decided to grant affiliation to controversial medical colleges, promotion of staff on the basis of seniority and negation of political appointments, surgical services under Extended Health Services, and proper sanitation at hospitals.
“I urge the concerned authorities to ensure the rule of law, justice and social order instead of working in favor of mafia and criminals,” Dr KC had said. “I am forced to launch a fresh strike for the betterment of the medical sector.”
Timeline
2 pm: Dr KC announces his 14th fast-unto-death
4 pm: Dr KC begins his fast-unto-death
4 pm: SC official Netrabandhu Paudel registers a contempt of court case against Dr. KC
5:30 pm: SC starts hearing on the case
6 pm : SC orders police to arrest Dr KC and produce him in court by 9 am Tuesday
8 pm: Dr KC is arrested from Maharajgunj and taken to Singha Durbar police station
