New Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma Assumes Office, Pledges Judicial Independence

Kathmandu. Newly appointed Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma has stated that he will not do anything that casts doubt on the administration of justice.

Immediately after assuming office at the Supreme Court on Tuesday evening, Chief Justice Sharma said that he would not interfere in the administration of justice and would not do anything that casts doubt.

He said that his first priority is to keep the independent judiciary intact. "The judiciary is the guardian of the Constitution of Nepal, the guarantor of fundamental rights, and a major pillar of democratic governance," Sharma said. "Therefore, the creation and protection of an independent, impartial, capable, and people-trusted judiciary will be the main goal of my tenure."

Upon becoming Chief Justice, Sharma, who reached the Supreme Court, was welcomed with garlands by Justice Kumar Regmi.

Full Text of the Address

Dear media friends,
I express my sincere gratitude for your presence. As per the Constitution of Nepal, I have today received the honor of taking the oath of office as Chief Justice and assuming this glorious responsibility. I have accepted this responsibility not merely as a position, but as a duty to further strengthen the Constitution, the rule of law, judicial independence, and the people's trust in justice.

The judiciary is the guardian of the Constitution of Nepal, the guarantor of fundamental rights, and a major pillar of democratic governance. Therefore, the creation and protection of an independent, impartial, capable, and people-trusted judiciary will be the main goal of my tenure.

The independence and impartiality of the judiciary are the backbone of democracy. My first and foremost priority is to keep the independent judiciary fully intact. There will be no compromise on this principle under any circumstances. No interference will be accepted in the institutional independence of the judiciary, the professional impartiality of judges, or the dignity of the judicial process. No one needs to have any doubt about this, and I want to assure you completely that no such act will be done by me, nor will it be allowed to happen.
Technology Usage
I will promote the overall digital transformation of the judiciary institutionally by making the judiciary technology-friendly through the effective use of information technology.
I will make the Virtual Hearing system more effective and accessible.

Judicial Governance
To maintain judicial governance, the Zero Tolerance policy will be firmly adopted, and strict control will be exercised over any kind of irregularity, delay, lack of transparency, or any undesirable activity in the judicial sector. Furthermore, effective steps will be taken to control and eliminate the influence of middlemen.

Service Delivery:
To make service delivery fast, efficient, transparent, and effective, necessary laws will be amended and procedures simplified, and a high-level committee will be formed to identify and suggest which laws need to be reformed.
A streamlined management of Helpline Desks will be established in each court for the convenience of service recipients.

Enhancing Access to Justice
I will place special emphasis on operationalizing the principle of participation, cooperation, and coordination as the main basis of work performance. Through this, I will strive to enhance access to justice by making judicial work performance more effective.

Effective Judicial Council
I will develop the institutional practice of the Judicial Council meeting regularly, making it more effective and active.

Settlement of Old Pending Cases
A special action plan will be formulated and effectively implemented for the speedy settlement of old pending cases.

Implementation of Judgments
Necessary initiatives will be taken to make the implementation of judgments more robust, effective, and result-oriented.

In conclusion, I deeply feel that the trust of the general public in the judiciary is our greatest strength. I will always be committed to the protection and promotion of the Constitution, the rule of law, human rights, and the universal values of justice. I have confidence that I will receive constructive cooperation from the honorable judges across the country, including the Supreme Court, judicial service employees, learned legal practitioners, the scholarly community working in the field of justice and law, the media, and the general public in carrying out this great responsibility. As Chief Justice, I commit to providing information about the progress and reform efforts during my tenure from time to time through the media. I will also communicate with the media myself as needed. Furthermore, any journalist wishing to meet the Chief Justice can coordinate with my secretariat to schedule an appointment. With this, I conclude my remarks for now. I will share the rest in the coming days after I start working. Thank you!