Judicial Council to bar lawyers from direct appointment as Supreme Court justices
Summary
The Judicial Council is considering prioritising career judges from the district and high courts for Supreme Court appointments, a move that could end the direct appointment of private lawyers to the bench. The debate comes amid concerns over judicial transparency, vacancy shortages and pressure to fill four open seats at the apex court.
Key Points
- The Judicial Council is discussing a new appointment practice that would give preference to judges from district and high courts over private legal practitioners.
- Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma said preparations were underway, but no final decision has been made on the candidates or their backgrounds.
- The Nepal Bar Association has urged the council to maintain a balance between career judges and qualified lawyers from private practice.
- Four Supreme Court posts are vacant, while the court is handling about 25,000 pending cases.
