KATHMANDU, July 29: The Parliamentary Hearings Special Committee (PHSC) has completed the hearings of 11 nominees for the posts of Supreme Court justices.
The PHSC conducted hearings of Ishwar Khatiwada, Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Prakash Raut, Anil Sinha and Sapana Pradhan Malla on Thursday. The PHSC had conducted hearings of Deep Kumar Karki, Kedar Prasad Chalise, Sharada Prasad Ghimire, Mira Khadka, Hari Krishna Karki and Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha on Wednesday. According to PHSC member Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, the confirmations will take place Sunday.
Among those recommended, Hari Krishna Karki, Raut, Sinha and Malla are senior advocates while the rest are career judges currently serving as chief judges at various appellate courts.
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The Judicial Council had recommended the 11 names on March 11 but the hearings could not be held for almost five months in the absence of parliamentary regulations.
During the hearings on Thursday, parliamentarians questioned Sapana Pradhan-Malla on her political affiliation and career. She was a member of the first Constituent Assembly under the proportional representation electoral system from CPN-UML.
In reply, she said that she was in the CA as an expert and professional and claimed that she was never involved in other party activities. She also claimed that she will maintain a clean image as a justice if her nomination is confirmed.
