Manoj Kumar Sharma takes charge as 33rd Chief Justice of Nepal

Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma has formally assumed office as the Chief Justice on Nepal following his appointment. The appointment of Sharma as Chief Justice concludes a process that had drawn extensive political and legal attention in recent weeks. With this appointment, Sharma becomes the 33rd Chief Justice and will serve a sixyear term as outlined under Article 129(4) of the Constitution.
President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed Sharma to the post on Tuesday after his name was unanimously approved by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee.  The endorsement was made in accordance with Rule 26(5) of the Regulations for the Working Procedures of the Joint Meeting of the Federal Parliament and Joint Committee, 2080. Earlier, the Constitutional Council had recommended Dr. Sharma for the post.
Traditionally, Nepal’s judiciary has followed the convention of appointing the senior-most judge as chief justice, a practice regarded as essential for maintaining institutional stability. However, Dr. Sharma, who ranks fourth in seniority, was selected over senior justices Sapana Pradhan Malla, Kumar Regmi, and Hari Prasad Phuyal. His appointment is being seen as a significant moment in Nepal's judicial history, particularly due to the departure from the long-standing seniority convention that has traditionally guided leadership transitions in the Supreme Court.
The PHC reached its decision after deliberating on lawmakers’ questions and reviewing the action plan presented by Dr. Sharma during the hearing. In the session held earlier on Tuesday, he also responded to queries from members of parliament and addressed 16 complaints lodged against him.The move led to internal disagreement within the Constitutional Council, where National Assembly Chair Narayan Dahal and opposition representative Bhishmaraj Angdembe expressed dissent over what they described as a departure from established judicial tradition.