PM Dahal calls Constitutional Council meeting

Kathmandu, 18 Apr: As a follow up to a meeting of the major parties held at the residence of former Prime Minister K P Oli on Monnday, Prime Minister Puhspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has called the meeting of the Constitutional Council for Wednesday.

The Constitutional Council meeting is likely to initiate the process for appointment of the chief justice which has been lying vacant for the past 14 months with Harikrihna Karki, senior most judge of the supreme court, officiating as the CJ.

The  meeting will be held at 9 AM Wednesday according to the PM secretariat.

The Prime Minister, an ex-officio chairperson of the constitutional council, needs to propose the list of  new Candidates for the post and refer to the parliamentary committee for hearing and confirmation.

The meeting of top leaders of the three major parties held at Oli’s residence Tuesday had decided to begin the process of appointment of the Chief Justice.

Prior to this, Nepal Bar Association had asked Prime Minister Dahal to urgently fulfill the post within ten days with a warning that they would go into direct action if the deadline was not met.

The Chief Justice post has been lying vacant ever since Cholendra Sumsher Rana was suspended  after an impeachment notice was registered with parliament secretariat.

He retired during the process of the motion as major parties, mainly the Nepali Congress and the Maoists chose to keep the case lingering.