Kathmandu, August 6

The Constitutional Council has called its meeting on Wednesday to discuss fresh nomination for the chief justice.

However, Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal said the meeting would be rescheduled, as the leader of principal opposition, Sher Bahadur Deuba urged the government to reschedule the meeting after a week.

“The leader of the principal opposition has told us that he will be going out of the country for health check-up and will return after a week. The meeting is, therefore, likely to be rescheduled as participation of the leader of the principal opposition is vital,” he said.

Asked if the next meeting of the CC would make fresh recommendation for the chief justice, he said the CC would discuss the issue.

Fresh nomination has become necessary after the Public Hearing Committee rejected CJ nominee Deepak Raj Joshee on Friday even as four PHC members who represented the Nepali Congress in the panel boycotted the meeting.

The NC has opposed the PHC’s decision to reject CJ nominee Joshee, stating that the PHC’s decision was against the principle of separation of powers.

The CC had nominated Joshee from among three members sent by the Judicial Council. The JC had sent the names of Joshee and two other senior justices of the Supreme Court -- Om Prakash Mishra and Cholendra Shamsher JB Rana -- who have served for at least three years in the SC, a major criterion for winning the CJ nomination. Senior-most Justice Mishra assumed the charge of acting CJ yesterday after incumbent acting CJ Joshee went on a 15-day leave.  Mishra is expected to win the CC nomination for CJ.