KATHMANDU, June 12: With the Parliament Regulations opening the door for appointments at the constitutional bodies, a meeting of the Constitutional Council (CC) has been called for Tuesday to recommend the name of the chief justice (CJ).

Minister for Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Sher Bahadur Tamang informed Republica that the meeting of the CC will start the appointment process of CJ. Head of the CC, Prime Minister KP Oli has summoned the CC meeting at 4 pm on Tuesday to recommend the new chief justice and discuss the appointments at other vacant constitutional bodies.

“The appointment process of the chief justice at the Supreme Court will start from the council meeting on Tuesday and the appointment process at the other constitutional bodies will also be initiated,” said Minister Tamang who is also an ex-officio member of the CC.

After the Judicial Council relieved the then chief justice Gopal Parajuli of his responsibilities in March, the senior-most Justice Deepak Raj Joshee has been heading the Supreme Court as the acting chief justice. Sources say that the chances are high for Joshee's appointment as the CJ due to the existing and past practices.

Nine of the 13 constitutional bodies including the Commission for the Investigation of abuse of Authority (CIAA) are without chiefs . After the immediate past CIAA chief retired due to age bar, Commissioner Nabin Ghimire has been heading the powerful body for the last three months. Natural Resources and Financial Commission, which is urgent for the implementation of federalism in the country and including other five new constitutional commissions established by the fresh charter, are yet to be formed.

 
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