Judicial Council starts high court appointments, leaves Supreme Court vacancies unresolved
Summary
The Judicial Council has appointed three legal practitioners as high court judges while leaving Supreme Court vacancies unresolved, even as the top court faces a backlog of around 29,000 cases. Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma said judicial appointments have begun, but critics argued the council should have filled Supreme Court posts first.
Key Points
- The Judicial Council appointed three people as high court judges and also made several other judicial transfers on Tuesday.
- The Supreme Court remains understaffed with 17 justices serving out of a constitutionally required 21, while about 29,000 cases are pending.
- Critics, including Nepal Bar Association general secretary Kedar Koirala, said the council addressed administrative needs instead of the judiciary’s most urgent vacancy problem.
- The Judicial Service Commission recommended new registrars and a secretary for the Judicial Council, with the appointments pending Cabinet approval.
