KATHMANDU: Chief Justice (CJ) Min Bahadur Rayamajhi is going to take compulsory retirement five weeks later. Consequently, homework has begun in the judiciary for the appointment of next CJ. However, there is no certainty over the meeting of Constitutional Council (CC), thanks to the UCPN-Maoist's ongoing protests ever since the formation of UML-led government some six months ago. Senior most justice Anup Raj Sharma is at the forefront to hold the top judicial post after December 11 when Rayamajhi takes compulsory retirement. Sharma will be the first lawyer-turned-CJ in the 50-year long judicial history. He had joined the SC in 2004 after spending 25-years in legal profession. 'We hope the appointment process will begin soon,' said Jivan Hari Adhikari, Secretary, Judicial Council. 'We will write the Supreme Court to urge the CC to start appointment process.” As Rayamajhi is going to participate in a weeklong CJ's conference in Vietnam next week, the apex court has been doing needful for an early appointment of next CJ. Almost a month is required for the CJ’s appointment as 15 days are required for the parliamentary hearing and almost a week is needed for other process to call CC's meeting and to return the decision of the hearing committee to the CC. A source at the SC said that the CJ already urged Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire to initiate the appointment process.