Constitutional Council meeting called to recommend Chief Justice

KATHMANDU: A meeting of the Constitutional Council has been called for Thursday to recommend the next Chief Justice.

The Constitutional Council Secretariat convened the meeting at the direction of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who also chairs the body. The meeting is scheduled for 5 pm.

The post has remained vacant since Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut took retirement on March 31 upon reaching the mandatory age limit of 65. Senior-most Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla has been serving as Acting Chief Justice until the new Chief Justice is appointed.

The Constitutional Council has six members—the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairperson of the National Assembly, and the leader of the main opposition party. The Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs attends the meeting called to recommend the Chief Justice in place of the Chief Justice

The Constitutional Council (Works, Functions, Rights and Procedures) (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, issued by the President, allows decisions to be taken by a majority of the total number of members attending the meeting. In the event of a 3-3 split vote, the PM will have the final say.

Earlier, any proposal had to be passed by a majority of total members if attempts to forge consensus failed.