24 Vaisakh, Kathmandu. Supreme Court Justice Dr. Manoj Sharma has been recommended as the Chief Justice. The Constitutional Council's meeting on Thursday has proposed Sharma's name as the Chief Justice.
This is the first incident in Nepal's judicial history where a judge who is fourth in the seniority list has been recommended as the Chief Justice, replacing the most senior judge. If the Parliamentary Hearing Committee approves his name, he will become the 33rd Chief Justice. Sharma, who was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court on 6 Vaisakh 2076, will serve as the Chief Justice for his full term, i.e., 6 years, if he is approved by the parliamentary hearing.
The Constitutional Council has proposed Sharma, who is fourth in the seniority list, as the Chief Justice, leaving out Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla and senior judges Kumar Regmi and Hari Phuyal. Born on 4 Ashar, 2027, Sharma will turn 65 only on 3 Ashar, 2092. No Chief Justice has completed a 6-year term since the reinstatement of democracy. If he completes his 6-year term, he will remain the Chief Justice until Vaisakh, 2089.
Sharma, who holds a bachelor's degree in law from Nepal Law Campus and a master's degree in law from Pune University in India, has also completed his Ph.D. in labor law. He had retired after being appointed as an additional judge of the Appellate Court and the temporary judge system was abolished. Later, when Cholendra Shumsher Jabra became the Chief Justice, Sharma was recommended as a judge of the Supreme Court and was approved through the parliamentary hearing process.
