KATHMANDU, Aug 9: The Nepal Bar Association (NBA) has expressed serious dissatisfaction with the Judicial Council’s recent recommendation of 27 high court judges. In a press statement issued by General Secretary and Senior Advocate Kedar Prasad Koirala, the Bar claimed the appointments disregard the constitutional principle of proportional and inclusive representation.
The NBA stated that such an imbalanced appointment process has failed to ensure meaningful representation of women, various geographical regions, classes, and communities within the judiciary, weakening public trust in the judicial system.
Controversy persists over judge appointments
The statement emphasized that judicial appointments must be based on merit and capability. It criticized that judicial reform reports have become mere symbolic documents with little commitment to implementation, and noted that the Bar’s concerns were completely ignored despite being a key stakeholder in the justice system.
The NBA reiterated its longstanding demands: establishing transparent, objective, and predictable criteria for judicial appointments; fully implementing the inclusive principles enshrined in the Constitution; and immediately scrapping the amended rules of the Judicial Council. The NBA concluded that it will not accept any future appointments from the Council unless these demands are met.
