KATHMANDU, May 7: The Judicial Council has recommended Supreme Court Justice Dr. Manoj Sharma for appointment as the next Chief Justice of Nepal, marking a significant and unprecedented development in the country’s judicial history.
A meeting of the Judicial Council held on Thursday forwarded Sharma’s name for parliamentary hearing and approval. If endorsed by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee, he will become the 33rd Chief Justice of Nepal.
Constitutional Council nominates fourth-ranked justice as CJ, b...
The recommendation is considered historic because Sharma currently ranks fourth in seniority among Supreme Court justices. This is the first time in Nepal’s judicial history that a justice outside the top senior-most position has been nominated for the country’s highest judicial office.
Justice Sharma was appointed to the Supreme Court on April 19, 2019 (6 Baisakh 2076 BS). Upon parliamentary endorsement, he is expected to serve a full six-year tenure as Chief Justice.
The Constitutional Council recommended Sharma over Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla and senior justices Kumar Regmi and Hari Phuyal, all of whom rank above him in the judicial hierarchy.
The recommendation is likely to generate discussion within legal and political circles regarding judicial seniority, constitutional practice, and leadership succession in Nepal’s judiciary.
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