PM convenes CC to pick new CJ

KATHMANDU, APRIL 17: The Constitutional Council (CC) is convening on April 21 to choose a successor to Chief Justice Kedar Prasad Giri, who is retiring on May 3.



A source at the CC said that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal, in his capacity as ex-officio chairman of the CC, on Friday directed CC officials to call the meeting to pick the new chief justice from among six contenders. [break]






Out of the 21 justices at the Supreme Court, only Min Bahadur Rayamajhee, Anup Raj Sharma, Ram Prasad Shrestha, Khil Raj Regmi, Bala Ram KC and Top Bahadur Magar are eligible for the top job in the judiciary.



Article 103 (2) of the Interim Constitution says that a justice should have served at the Supreme Court for at least three years to become eligible for the post of chief justice.



It is the tradition at the apex court for the seniormost justice to be appointed chief justice. If this tradition is carried forward, Justice Rayamajhee will succeed Giri, who completes 65 years of age on May 3.