Four Supreme Court nominees approved after scrutiny of judicial conduct and allegations

The Parliamentary Hearing Committee on Saturday unanimously approved four nominees for permanent positions on the Supreme Court, clearing the way for their appointment after the Tihar holiday. The committee endorsed Ratna Bahadur Bagchand, Chandra Bahadur Saru, Janak Pandey and Gokarna Dangi, all of whom had been recommended by the Judicial Council from among serving High Court judges.

Committee chair Bodh Narayan Shrestha said the nominees were approved with the agreement of all lawmakers following hearings on Friday and Saturday. Their appointment and oath-taking will take place after the Tihar holiday, which began on Friday.

Lawmakers asked all four nominees similar questions over their judicial records, the influence of intermediaries in the courts, political interference and allegations raised in complaints against them. They also raised public concerns that justice had become increasingly inaccessible and that judges themselves were meeting intermediaries at hotels over tea.