SC staff walk out over CJ nominee petitions

KATHMANDU: Supreme Court administration employees have fled their offices after Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla issued an order to file writ petitions against the Chief Justice’s recommendation.

According to court sources, key officials and employees of the Supreme Court administration left their offices shortly after the order was issued, leaving several administrative sections effectively paralyzed.

Lawyers are also preparing to stage a protest at the Supreme Court premises in response to the controversy.

Earlier in the day, Acting Chief Justice Malla directed the court administration to register all pending petitions by 1:00 p.m. and schedule hearings for Tuesday.

In her order, she stated that the administration’s refusal to register the writ petitions had obstructed access to justice.

The dispute centers on petitions filed against the recommendation of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma — the fourth senior-most justice — for appointment as Nepal’s next Chief Justice.

Legal professionals had raised objections after the Supreme Court administration allegedly refused to register the petitions challenging the recommendation.

In the order, the acting chief justice said attempts by the registrar and chief registrar to delay constitutionally filed petitions and complaints against registration refusal amounted to a failure to uphold the judiciary’s integrity, impartiality, and independence.

The order further noted that when concerns were raised with the chief registrar, it was revealed that the petitions had not been registered because of “instructions from the justice recommended for the post of chief justice.”

Malla also reminded court officials that the ultimate responsibility for ensuring an effective judicial administration rests with the Chief Justice, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public trust in the judiciary during a politically sensitive appointment process.