Kathmandu, Aug 7: Political interference and quota-sharing have long affected the appointment of judges in Nepal's Supreme Court and High Courts. But the problem doesn't stop there. Talented and experienced staff in the judicial service are being pushed aside, often with no path for promotion to higher positions.

Data from recent years shows that most appointees are politically connected individuals. As a result, senior officials who have spent decades in the judiciary feel sidelined and demoralized. Political backing has taken priority over merit, limiting career growth for those not aligned with party networks.

In 2073 BS, only five officials from the judicial service were recommended for High Court appointments based on seniority and qualifications. That same year, 25 of the 34 new High Court judges came from legal practice. Just six deputy-secretary level judicial staff were promoted.

On 18 Poush 2080 BS, when 39 new High Court judges were appointed, only four were from the judicial service. Nine came from the legal field, most with strong political ties. Of the 26 promoted from District Courts, 28 more senior judges were overlooked.

Even lawyer appointments were distributed along party lines: four close to Nepali Congress, three to UML, one each to Maoist Centre and Rastriya Prajatantra Party.

According to a section officer at the Supreme Court, ignoring those with 30 years of judicial experience while promoting politically affiliated lawyers has left long-serving staff feeling stuck and undervalued. The same officer added that this trend blocks promotions not just for judges but also for court registrars and officers. She asked, “Why would capable people join the judiciary in such a system?”

Out of 19 serving Supreme Court justices, only seven are career judges. The last Chief Justice to have risen from the District Court level was Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha. Om Prakash Mishra also came from the judiciary but served just four months as Chief Justice before Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana took over in 2075 BS.

As the Judicial Council prepares for new appointments, Nepal Bar Association has demanded that half of the High Court judge positions go to lawyers. On 19 Shrawan, the Bar issued a statement asking for a fair, experience-based selection process and transparency in judge transfers.

There are currently two Chief Judge positions and 27 judge posts vacant across High Courts, along with 10 vacancies in District Courts. One Supreme Court judge also remains to be appointed.

The Bar has warned that if these vacancies are filled without proper consultation or fairness, it will launch a campaign to safeguard judicial independence and public trust.

People’s News Monitoring Service