PM Dahal calls Constitutional Council meeting for Tuesday

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called a meeting of the Constitutional Council for 4 pm on Tuesday.

Dahal finalized the dates for the meeting after holding discussions with coalition partner Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and the leader of the main opposition, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, on Sunday.

Although no agenda has been set yet, the meeting is expected to recommend the next Chief Justice.

Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki is retiring due to age grounds on August 5. Although there is a tradition of naming the next chief justice one month before the incumbent Chief Justice takes retirement; Dahal hasn’t been able to hold the Constitutional Council meeting.

The Constitutional Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, consists of the Speaker, National Assembly Chairperson, Chief Justice, Deputy Speaker, and Leader of the Main Opposition Party as members. The Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs takes the place of the Chief Justice in meetings organized to make recommendations for the Chief Justice.

The senior-most justice in the Supreme Court after Karki is Bishwambher Shrestha. The meeting is expected to recommend him as the next Chief Justice.