Chief Justice Dr. Manojkumar Sharma was sworn in by President Ram Chandra Paudel. The Constitutional Council had decided to appoint Sharma, who was ranked fourth among the six candidates recommended by the Judicial Council. The Nepal Bar Association and others have protested the recommendation of Sharma, citing violations of seniority.
Dr. Manojkumar Sharma, approved through parliamentary hearing, is set to assume office today. According to Supreme Court spokesperson Arjun Koirala, Sharma took his oath from President Ram Chandra Paudel. The Constitutional Council’s decision to recommend Sharma, breaking from the traditional seniority order, has raised concerns about the judiciary’s independence and transparency.
The most senior judge in the Supreme Court is Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla, who was expected to be appointed Chief Justice based on seniority. The government had issued a relevant ordinance regarding the Constitutional Council, creating an environment for the prime minister to easily approve his preferred candidate.
The ordinance included provisions allowing three members of the six-member Constitutional Council to make decisions unilaterally. Following the issuance of this ordinance, the Constitutional Council convened and recommended Sharma’s name. Opposition leaders, including Bhismraj Angdembe, leader of the main opposition party, and Narayan Dahal, Chairperson of the National Assembly, voiced their disagreement with the recommendation of Sharma.
