Kathmandu, April 1: Sapana Malla, the senior-most judge of Nepal’s Supreme Court, assumed office as the country’s acting Chief Justice on Wednesday following the retirement of Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 65.
Malla, 62, automatically stepped into the top judicial position as per seniority rules. She holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the University of Delhi and is the second woman to lead Nepal’s judiciary, after Sushila Karki, who later became the country’s first female interim prime minister.
The appointment comes amid delays in the Constitutional Council’s nomination process, as mandated under Article 284(3) of Nepal’s Constitution, which requires a new Chief Justice recommendation at least a month before the incumbent’s retirement. The process has been stalled since the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR) on September 12, 2025, following Gen Z protests and the resignation of then-Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.
The Constitutional Council, responsible for recommending a new Chief Justice, includes six members: the Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker of the HoR, chair of the National Assembly, Leader of the main Opposition, and Deputy Speaker.
Key vacancies in the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Opposition Leader positions have prevented the Council from convening, leaving the nomination process unresolved. In this context, Malla’s appointment as acting Chief Justice ensures continuity of leadership in Nepal’s apex court. (PTI)
