KATHMANDU: The Parliamentary Hearing Committee has advanced the confirmation process of Chief Justice nominee Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma.
In a meeting held on Tuesday at Singha Durbar, the committee distributed complaints filed against Sharma to its members for review.
A total of 16 complaints have been registered against the nominee. Following the distribution, the committee also held discussions with the complainants on the same day and said it plans to conclude the hearing process within Tuesday itself.
The fast-track approach to the hearing has drawn objections from opposition lawmakers. Committee member Padma Aryal said that while time had been available earlier to study the complaints, proceeding in haste was inappropriate.
Similarly, committee member Barshaman Pun urged that any changes to the hearing schedule should be discussed with all members.
Lawmakers from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, however, said the hearing process should not be unnecessarily prolonged.
Committee chairperson Boda Narayan Shrestha urged cooperation, saying that “special times require special decisions” and noting that the process itself was a test of how much work could be completed in a short time. He also suggested that a swift hearing could help ease tensions within the judiciary.
Dr. Sharma was recommended for appointment as Chief Justice by the Constitutional Council on April 24. If endorsed by the committee, he will be appointed by the President in accordance with constitutional provisions.
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