Sharma named new chief justice of Nepal

Supreme Court justice Anup Raj Sharma has been named as next chief justice of Nepal.

A meeting of the Constitutional Council (CC) held on Monday recommended Sharma’s name for the top judicial post, upholding the tradition of seniority while appointing the head of the apex court.

Sharma will replace incumbent justice Min Bahadur Rayamaji, who retires on December 12 due to age bar.

The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal saw the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Home Minister Bhim Rawal, Chief Justice Min Bahadur Rajamajhi, Speaker Subash Nemwang and Law Minister Prem Bahadur Singh.

The main opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is an officio member of the CC, remained absent in the meeting though his presence is mandatory for the CC to take any decision. Dahal cited his busy schedule for not attending the meeting.

Talking to media persons after the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Gachchhadar said the Maoist Chairman Dahal had given consent to pick the name of Sharma as new chief justice.

Sharma, a lawyer-turned judge, has earned good reputation for passing bold verdicts, especially during former king Gyanendra’s direct rule between February, 2005 to April, 2006.

He will be the first lawyer to assume the top judicial post once the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee clears his name for the post.

Sharma was in the limelight when a bench comprising him released political detainees during the king’s direct rule in 2005. He also shared a bench that lifted ban on broadcast of news from FM radios during royal regime.

Among others, Sharma takes credit to the landmark verdict to dissolve the king-formed all-powerful Royal Commission on Corruption Control (RCCC).

The RCCC worked as a tool of the king to silence politicians who opposed his move to dissolve elected government and impose authoritarian rule after his takeover in February 1, 2005.

- Asian Tribune -