Kathmandu - The full bench of the Supreme Court of Nepal, comprising all of the apex court's justices, on Monday expressed serious concern over news reports and social media content that have named the Chief Justice and other justices. In a statement issued through Supreme Court spokesperson Dr. Ashok Kumar Kshetri, the full court reaffirmed its firm commitment to the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law, and urged the concerned authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into the matters that have been made public. The collective statement represents the joint position of the country's highest court at a time when its members have been named in publicly circulating reports and posts.

Full bench voices serious concern over reports naming justices

The statement was made public on Monday by Dr. Ashok Kumar Kshetri, the Supreme Court's spokesperson, through whom the court issues its official communications. In the statement, the full bench said it viewed with serious concern the news reports and social media content published so far naming the Chief Justice and other justices.

The pronouncement carries particular weight because it reflects a collective position adopted by the justices as a body, rather than the individual view of any single judge. News of the statement was carried by Nepal Press, Khabarhub and Global Aawaj, each of which highlighted the court's emphasis on constitutional supremacy and the rule of law.

Key points of the full court's statement

  • The full bench expressed serious concern over news reports and social media content naming the Chief Justice and other justices
  • The court reaffirmed its firm commitment to the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law
  • The full court urged all concerned to remain serious about the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law
  • The bench called on the concerned authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into the matters that have been made public

Taken together, these points outline both the court's institutional worry and the remedy it is seeking: a fair and impartial probe of the published matters.

Reaffirming constitutional supremacy and the rule of law

At the heart of the statement is the reaffirmation of constitutional supremacy. Under Nepal's constitutional framework, the Supreme Court stands at the apex of the judiciary and serves as the final authority on the interpretation of the constitution. The principle of constitutional supremacy holds that all state organs, officeholders and institutions must function within the limits the constitution sets, while the rule of law requires that the law apply equally and consistently to everyone, regardless of position or power.

By restating its commitment in a full-bench statement, the court presented these principles not as abstract ideals but as standing commitments of the institution. The Nepal Press report headlined the full court's call to remain serious about the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law, underscoring that this theme anchored the entire statement issued on Monday.

The justices' decision to speak collectively also signals that the matter is being treated as one of institutional significance for the judiciary as a whole, rather than as a concern of individual members who have been named in the reports and social media content.

Court calls for an impartial investigation

Alongside its reaffirmation of constitutional principles, the full bench directed its appeal to the authorities responsible for examining the matters that have been made public. The statement urged the concerned authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into those matters.

As reported, the statement did not identify a specific investigative agency, outline a timeframe or describe in detail the matters to be probed. The request was framed in general terms, with the emphasis placed squarely on impartiality. In the court's framing, any examination of the published matters should be carried out fairly and without prejudice.

The call also makes clear that, in the full bench's view, the appropriate next step lies not with the court itself but with the authorities tasked with investigating what has been published. Responsibility for moving the matter forward now rests with those authorities, following the court's public appeal on Monday.

Naming of justices in media and social platforms

The immediate backdrop to the statement is the circulation of news reports and social media content that have named the Chief Justice and other justices of the Supreme Court. While the statement issued through the spokesperson did not describe the content in detail, its language indicates that the bench regarded the naming of the justices as a matter warranting the court's collective concern.

Statements issued through the spokesperson are the standard channel through which the Supreme Court communicates with the public. A full-bench statement, however, stands apart because it conveys the shared position of all the justices rather than a routine procedural notice. That distinction helps explain the weight the statement gives to two messages delivered together: a firm commitment to the constitutional order, and a demand that the matters already in the public domain be examined impartially.

For now, the full court's public position stands as issued on Monday: serious concern over the reports and social media content naming the Chief Justice and the justices, a reaffirmed commitment to the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law, and a call for the concerned authorities to investigate the matters made public in a manner that is impartial. Any action the authorities take in response will determine how the matter develops from here.