Constitutional Council recommends Manoj Sharma as Chief Justice of Nepal

Kathmandu – The Constitutional Council has recommended Dr. Manoj Sharma for the position of Chief Justice. In its meeting on Thursday, the council recommended Sharma, who is fourth in seniority, for the role.

In a move unprecedented in Nepal’s judicial history, Sharma, despite being fourth in the order of seniority, has been recommended for Chief Justice. If approved by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee, he will become the 33rd Chief Justice.

According to constitutional provisions, a person who has served as a judge in the Supreme Court for three years is eligible for appointment as Chief Justice. Following this, the Judicial Council had forwarded the names of six individuals, including senior-most judge Sapana Pradhan Malla, Kumar Regmi, Hari Phuyal, Manoj Sharma, Nahakul Subedi, and Til Prasad Shrestha.

However, the council bypassed three candidates to recommend Sharma. Despite widespread pressure not to breach seniority, Sharma was recommended as Chief Justice due to the insistence of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who also chairs the council.

The council meeting was attended by Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Dahal, Law Minister Sobita Gautam, and Deputy Speaker Rubi Kumari, alongside Chair Shah.

After the constitution was promulgated, Sharma had returned home following the non-reappointment of High Court judges. He was later appointed as a Supreme Court judge during the tenure of Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana.

Born on Ashadh 4, 2027, Sharma will turn 65 on Ashadh 3, 2092. However, as the tenure of a Chief Justice is six years, he will retire before reaching that age.