The Judicial Council has failed to meet for recommending a new chief justice even as the incumbent CJ, Sushila Karki, retires on Wednesday on age ground.

Chief Justice Karki, in an interview with the Nepal weekly published on Sunday, revealed that she had written to all the concerned council members about a meeting but it did not materialise after the members did not find a time suitable for all, said sources.

The chief justice heads the council whose members are the law minister, senior most justice at the Supreme Court, one expert appointed by the prime minister and a representative of the Nepal Bar Association, the umbrella body of Nepali lawyers.

As per the tradition, the recommendation is made one month ahead of the incumbent CJ’s retirement. A senior official at the Judicial Council told the Post that efforts were made since last week to convene the meeting, to no avail. For the council to take any decision, a majority of its members should be present in the meeting.

“I was outside Kathmandu when I got a call,” said Law Minister Ajay Shankar Nayak. “The chance of holding the meeting is now over. The meeting has been postponed until a new law minister takes charge.”

Parliament is set to elect the new prime minister on Tuesday. Appointment of the law minister could take days. After CJ Karki’s retirement, Gopal Parajuli will head the apex court as its senior most justice until his appointment is confirmed.

In this case, the acting CJ will call a meeting of the council but he cannot recommend his own name. Another member of the council would recommend the name and forward it for parliamentary hearing. After endorsement of the candidate from the House committee, the government will recommend the name to the President for appointment