A month on, Chief Justice’s promise to fix judge vacancies unfulfilled
Summary
Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma has not initiated the process to fill judicial vacancies over a month after taking office, exacerbating the backlog of pending cases in Nepal's courts.
Key Points
- Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma pledged to establish a proactive system to fill judicial vacancies before they occur but has yet to initiate any appointment process over a month into his tenure.
- Several important judicial vacancies remain unfilled, including three vacancies in the Supreme Court and three High Court chief judge positions.
- Internal friction between Chief Justice Sharma and Senior Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla has contributed to the paralysis of the Judicial Council and delayed meetings.
- Nepal's Supreme Court faces a significant backlog with over 27,000 pending cases, many unresolved for years, underscoring urgent calls for timely judicial appointments.
