Kathmandu, Feb. 27 -- Prior public expressions, including on social media, do not automatically disqualify a person from serving on an inquiry commission, the Supreme Court said, stressing that impartial performance is key to establishing a commission's legitimacy.

A full bench of Justices Manoj Kumar Sharma, Nahakul Subedi and Nripa Dhwoj Niroula made the observation in its verdict on a writ challenging the eligibility of officials appointed to the high-level investigation commission probing the incidents of September 8-9. The court had delivered its decision on December 26 last year, quashing the writ petition. The full text of the ruling was made public on Friday.

The court said that while public statements made before appointment ma...