KATHMANDU, Mar 5: The Supreme Court (SC) has shifted the contempt of court case against Kantipur Publications to another bench comprising justices Dambar Bahadur Shahi and Bam Kumar Shrestha. The bench began recording the statements of Kantipur officials on Sunday.
On Sunday, the bench recorded the statement of Kantipur Publications Director Swastika Sirohiya who claimed that she and the publications do not have any intention to disrespect the judiciary.
SC refers Kantipur case to full bench, summons Dr KC
The bench asked other defendants - Managing Director Kailash Sirohiya, Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Sharma and Reporter Krishna Gyawali - to appear before the court tomorrow in order to record their statements.
The apex court shifted the case to another bench at a time when Kantipur Publications officials were preparing to demand the court to shift the case from the bench of Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli who had summoned them after an initial hearing conducted by Parajuli's bench itself.
Issuing an interim order to the Nepal Press Council to monitor whether Kantipur Publications violated the code of conduct for journalists, Parajuli's bench had summoned Kantipur Publications officials to appear before the court in person to record their statements on contempt charges.
Advocate Toyanath Dhungana had lodged the contempt of court case against Kantipur Publications officials accusing them of disrespecting the apex court by publishing news time and again against Chief Justice Parajuli on his different dates of birth and certificates.
