Eight complaints have been filed against candidates recommended for judgeships in the Supreme Court of Nepal.
These complaints were submitted to the Parliamentary Hearing Committee after the committee invited public feedback on four nominees put forth by the Judicial Council.
The committee will review these complaints and determine whether to approve the nominations.
The Judicial Council proposed four High Court judges for appointment to the Supreme Court on October 6, 2026. The nominees are:
- Dr. Ratna Bahadur Bagchand (Chief Judge of the Pokhara High Court)
- Chandra Bahadur Saru (Judge of the Patan High Court)
- Janak Pandey (Judge of the Hetauda Bench, Patan High Court)
- Gokarna Dangi (Judge of the Birgunj Bench, Janakpur High Court)
These nominations have initiated a parliamentary hearing process
The Parliamentary Hearing Committee has invited the public to submit complaints if they believe any nominee is unsuitable. Complainants must provide valid reasons and evidence while using appropriate language.
While eight complaints have been lodged, this does not imply any allegations are true or that the nominees will be disqualified. The committee will thoroughly investigate the claims and evidence.
How will the investigation proceed?
Complaints can be submitted directly to the committee’s Secretariat at Singha Durbar or through district administration offices nationwide. Complainants must provide their name, address, and contact number, although the committee has measures to keep their identity confidential if requested. The committee will investigate the complaints and communicate with the complainants.
This is a crucial step in the judicial appointment process in Nepal. After investigating the complaints, the committee will decide whether to approve the candidates.
If approved, the nominations will proceed through the constitutional process, where the President will officially appoint the judges to the Supreme Court.
The eight complaints mark a significant phase for the four nominees, as the committee will now begin its investigation.