Two Oppose Chief Justice Appointment Recommendation in Constitutional Council Meeting

Kathmandu. On Thursday, two individuals expressed their written dissent regarding the process of recommending the Chief Justice appointment in the Constitutional Council meeting, informed Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe.

Angdembe, who participated in the council meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office and Council of Ministers in his capacity as the leader of the main opposition party, and National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, disagreed with the decision to recommend Dr. Manoj Sharma, who is fourth in seniority, for the Chief Justice position.

'We have submitted our written dissent regarding the decision-making process,' Angdembe told RatoPati, 'We have raised issues of procedure and tradition.'

The agenda of Thursday's Constitutional Council meeting was the recommendation for the Chief Justice appointment. The Judicial Council had recommended the names of Sapana Pradhan Malla in the first position, Kumar Regmi in the second, and Hari Phuyal in the third for the Chief Justice appointment. Malla was also the Acting Chief Justice at the time.

It was customary for the Judicial Council to recommend judges who have completed 3 years of local appointment to the Supreme Court for the Chief Justice appointment to the Constitutional Council, and for the Constitutional Council to recommend the person in the first seniority for the Chief Justice appointment.

Similarly, in Thursday's meeting, National Assembly Chairman Dahal and Angdembe also expressed disagreement regarding the ordinance related to the Constitutional Council. 'We have submitted our written dissent regarding the ordinance brought concerning the Constitutional Council and its provisions,' Angdembe said.