Proposed Chief Justice Faces Scrutiny Over Qualifications

Kathmandu. Complainants have raised serious questions about the educational qualifications, constitutional eligibility, and judicial performance of proposed Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma.

In the discussion held at the Federal Parliament's hearing committee on Tuesday, the complainants questioned the overall qualifications and judicial performance of proposed Chief Justice Sharma.

Speaking to journalists after the discussion, complainant Saroj Kumar Mishra claimed that the proposed Chief Justice Sharma has serious flaws in his judicial performance. He accused that an attempt is being made to appoint a judge who cannot even distinguish between personal and public interest cases as the Chief Justice. He strongly objected to the hearing committee proceeding with the hearing process without conducting necessary investigations into the complaints.

Expressing his dissatisfaction, complainant Mishra said, 'I have filed a complaint with the parliamentary hearing committee stating that there are flaws in his judicial performance, Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma. He is a judge who does not recognize personal and public cases. The committee is also in a great hurry, they do not want to listen. They want to appoint Manoj Kumar Sharma as Chief Justice at any cost, what can we do about it.'

Another complainant, Jasmine Ojha, questioned the constitutional eligibility of proposed Chief Justice Sharma and stated that public concerns cannot be ignored. She mentioned that Sharma's verdicts on some very sensitive issues, including cases related to the appointment of officials in constitutional bodies, have been controversial, and claimed that Sharma is not suitable for the post of Chief Justice. Ojha also accused the committee of hastily proceeding with the hearing process without adequate research and investigation into the complaints.

Questioning the committee's working style and Dr. Sharma's qualifications, Ojha said, 'Proposed Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma is constitutionally ineligible and there are many other questions. I have filed a complaint stating that the questions raised publicly about him cannot be ignored. Another thing is that the committee is also in a hurry. Complaints were registered only yesterday, and the investigation and inquiry into the complaints are not yet complete. News is coming out today about the hearing. Because Sharma has given controversial verdicts on several cases including the appointment of officials in constitutional bodies, he is not suitable for Chief Justice.'

Following the discussion with the complainants and the recording of their statements, further hearing and presentation of the work plan are currently underway in the parliamentary hearing committee regarding proposed Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma.