Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Constitutional Council has recommended Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki for appointment to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
A meeting of the Constitutional Council held in Kathmandu on Monday took the decision to this end.
Karki has been serving as the Acting Chief Justice since another Acting Chief Justice Deepak Kumar Karki took retirement in October.
The post of Chief Justice has remained vacant since February 13, 2022, when an impeachment motion was brought against Cholendra Shumsher Rana. Senior-most Justice Deepak Kumar Karki served as the acting Chief Justice following Rana’s suspension. He retired in October of last year.
The previous meeting of the Constitutional Council ended inconclusively after Oli insisted that parliamentary committees be formed first. “There is no point in recommending the Chief Justice now as the Parliamentary Hearing Committee, which must endorse the recommendation, hasn’t been formed yet,” Oli stated after the meeting.
According to the constitution, the committee must endorse the recommendation by a two-thirds majority for the appointment.
The Constitutional Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, consists of the Chief Justice, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice, National Assembly Chairman, and the leader of the main opposition party as members. However, the Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs serves as a member in meetings to recommend the Chief Justice.
