JC recommends names for 11 new justices

Kathmandu / March 02: The Judicial Council has nominated 11 new justices for the Supreme Court. Among the 11 nominees seven are the sitting chief judges of appellate court and four are senior advocates

The newly recommended justices of the Supreme Court are Dipak Karki, Kedar Chalise, Sarada Prasad Ghimire, Meera Khadka, Hari Krishna Karki, Bishwambhar Shrestha, Ishwar Khatiwada, Anand Mohan Bhattarai, Anil Kumar Sinha, Prakash Raut and Sapana Pradhan Malla. Similarly, the newly recommended justices from Senior advocates are Hari Krishna Karki, Prakash Raut, Anil Kumar Sinha and Sapana Pradhan Malla.

Karki tendered his resignation from the post of attorney general and his resignation was accepted by the President. Karki, who was the president of Nepal Bar Association, an umbrella body of the lawyers, was appointed AG after a government was formed under KP Sharma Oli.

Malla is a lead human rights lawyer who has championed the cause of women and children for over two decades. She had won Gruber International Women’s Rights Prize in 2008 under the category ‘Advancing Gender Equality’.

Malla is a member of United Nations Committee against torture. Sinha is a renowned lawyer who specialises in commercial and taxation law.

As per the new constitution, SC should have 21 justices, including the chief justice, but there are only 10 justices. Lack of justices has affected case disposal rate of the apex court.

Due to lack of adequate number of justices, only 40 to 60 cases, out of 150 to 200 that are in the cause list every day, are disposed. The apex court has more over 23,000 cases to dispose. The recommended persons will be appointed formally for the posts after the Parliamentary Hearing.