Judges recommended for Supreme Court amidst Nepal Bar Association protests

Kathmandu, September 27 — The Judicial Council has recommended judges for the Supreme Court during a meeting held on Friday. However, this recommendation process has not been without controversy.

As the meeting convened, the Nepal Bar Association initiated a protest outside the council premises, expressing anger over the recommendations made without addressing their demands.

The Bar Association has previously called for the implementation of a report from a task force before advancing the judge appointment process. Currently, there are four vacancies in the Supreme Court, with two more expected in the near future.

Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha and Justice Prakash Kumar Dhungana are set to retire, and the council has concluded that recommendations will be made for their positions. According to high-level sources, recommendations have been made for the Supreme Court, though specific numbers cannot be disclosed at this time. The council plans to provide formal information soon, which will include the names and numbers of the recommended judges.

The council meeting began at 10 a.m., and once discussions on judge appointments commenced, the Bar Association protested by surrounding the council premises. Led by Bar President Gopal Krishna Ghimire, the protest criticized attempts to appoint judges unconstitutionally.

The Bar began its protest with slogans after Chief Justice Shrestha called the meeting to discuss the appointments. Following the council's preparation to appoint six judges to the Supreme Court and 16 to the High Court, the Bar Association expressed its discontent regarding the council's rules and procedures.