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The government attorneys are giving the response pleading with the conclusion of the pleadings on behalf of the accused in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. The government attorneys will today respond to the legal questions raised by the lawyers pleading on behalf of the accused and the time until 1 pm has been set for this purpose, said Laxman Upadhyaya Ghimire, the District Attorney and spokesperson for the District Government Attorney Office. Chief of the District Government Attorney Office, Joint Attorney Achyut Mani Neupane, District Attorney Ghimire, District Attorney Mahesh Prasad Khatri and Assistant District Attorney Nirmala Marasini will be making the response pleading at the Kathmandu District Court today. Ghimire said that they are preparing to conclude the pleading before 1pm. It is said the court order regarding whether or not the accused should be held in custody is expected by the evening today. Generally, the court decision regarding whether or not the accused should be held in custody is made the day the response pleading by the government attorneys concludes. The District Government Attorney Office had filed cases at the District Court, Kathmandu against the accused on May 24, based on the report submitted by the police in connection to the scandal. Cases have been filed against 30 people for their involvement in the scam. They include former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, Dr Indrajeet Rai who was the security advisor to the former Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rizal among others. They have been charged with fraud, cheating, organized crime and treason. Twelve accused in this case are still absconding.  

The Parliamentary Hearing Committee unanimously endorsed Supreme Court acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki as the Chief Justice. A meeting of the Hearing Committee held in Singha Durbar on Friday unanimously endorsed Karki’s name as Chief Justice. Committee member Mahesh Bartaula informed that Karki’s name was unanimously endorsed as Chief Justice. Karki will be appointed as Chief Justice if President Ram Chandra Paudel appoints him to the top post of the Supreme Court. There is a constitutional provision that the President appoints the Chief Justice if the person recommended by the Constitutional Council is endorsed by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee. The Constitutional Council recommended Karki, also the acting Chief Justice, for the post of Chief Justice on April 28. More than 30 complaints were registered against him.  

Proposed Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki presented his action plan in a meeting of the Parliamentary Hearing Committee on Thursday. Karki, currently serving as the acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, said that if he was appointed the Chief Justice, his primary responsibilities would be to provide fair, prompt, and quality services based on the Constitution, laws, and principles of the judiciary. Karki said that he would be determined to ensure 'justice for all' during his term as the CJ. The program scheduled for today to question him and receive his replies has been rescheduled for 8:00 am on Friday. On Wednesday, the Committee conducted discussions with the complainants regarding the recommendation of Karki's appointment as Chief Justice. The Constitutional Council recommended Karki for the post of Chief Justice on May 8. A total of 29 complaints were registered challenging his appointment as the CJ.

Former Chief Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi has been appointed as the advisor of the National Security Council. A Cabinet meeting held on Thursday appointed Bairagi as the advisor of the National Security Council. He was appointed as the security advisor after Secretary at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Baikuntha Aryal was promoted to the post of Chief Secretary. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal administered the oath of office and secrecy to Bairagi amidst a program this morning.