Ram Kumar Shah to be the next Chief Justice of Nepal

KATHMANDU: Ram Kumar Shah is set to take charge as the new Chief Justice of Nepal as the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee (PHSC) today endorsed his name.

A meeting of Constitutional Council (CC) headed by Prime Minister on September 12 had picked Shah for the position from among five eligible justices at the apex court on the basis of seniority.

President Ram Baran Yadav will formally appoint Shah, who was appointed Supreme Court justice in 2005, after incumbent CJ Damodar Prasad Sharma's tenure expires on October 9.

"The recommendation would be immediately forwarded to the PHSC. The appointment process will go ahead after parliamentary hearing," Narahari Acharya, Minister for Law and Justice was quoted as saying by My Republica.

There is a provision in the Interim Constitution that any head of Constitutional body be endorsed by the Parliamentary committee before getting appointment.

Born on July 8, 1950, Shah joined Judicial Service as Section Officer in 1974 and was appointed district judge in 1976. He served as district judge till 1986. He was district government attorney, Kathmandu, from September 7, 1979, to February 16, 1981.