Supreme Court Judge Dr. Manoj Sharma Recommended as Chief Justice

Supreme Court Judge Dr. Manoj Sharma has been recommended for the position of Chief Justice. The Judicial Council proposed Sharma as the prospective Chief Justice during its meeting on Thursday. Notably, Sharma is the first individual to be recommended as Chief Justice while ranking fourth in seniority among justices.

Kathmandu, 24 Baisakh – In a historic development for Nepal’s judiciary, a judge who ranks fourth in the seniority order has been recommended for the post of Chief Justice, a precedent in Nepalese judicial history. If approved by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee, he will become the 33rd Chief Justice. Appointed as a Supreme Court judge on 6 Baisakh 2076 (April 2019), Sharma is expected to serve the full six-year term as Chief Justice, pending parliamentary approval.

The Constitutional Council proposed Sharma for Chief Justice, superseding senior justices Kumar Regmi, Hari Phuyal, and legal professional Sapana Pradhan Malla, who hold higher seniority. Born on 4 Asar 2027 BS (June 1970) in Parsa, Sharma will turn 65 on 3 Asar 2092 BS (mid-June 2035). Since the restoration of democracy, no Chief Justice has completed the full six-year tenure. Should Sharma complete it, he will remain Chief Justice until Baisakh 2089 BS (April 2032).

Sharma earned his law degree from Nepal Law Campus and completed his postgraduate law studies at Pune University, India. He holds a PhD in labor law. He had initially served as an additional judge at the Appellate Court and retired after temporary judgeship provisions were abolished. Later, during the tenure of Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher JBR, Sharma was recommended and ratified by parliamentary hearing as a Supreme Court judge.