Kathmandu, December 16

The Parliamentary Hearing Committee today decided to seek complaints, if any, within 10 days against Chief Justice nominee Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana.

A meeting of the Parliamentary Hearing Committee took a decision to this effect. PHC Chair LaxmanLalKarna said the 10 days period would start from the day the Parliament Secretariat would publish the notice in national newspapers seeking complaints against the chief justice nominee.

Karna said the Parliamentary Hearing Committee could immediately conduct the confirmation hearing after 10 days.

The Constitutional Council had, on December 13, nominated Justice Rana as the new chief justice. If confirmed, Rana could become the new chief justice on January 1 when the incumbent Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra will retire from service on age ground. Justices of the Supreme Court, including the chief justice can serve up to 65 years of age.

If confirmed Rana would be the chief justice for four years, becoming the first leader of the judiciary to have longest tenure after former chief justice BishwanathUpadhyay.

Late Upadhyay had led the judiciary from December 8, 1992 to September 26, 1995. All other chief justices after Upadhyay had short tenures.