The Parliamentary Hearing Committee on Tuesday endorsed Supreme Court Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma for appointment as the chief justice of Nepal.

The meeting of the hearing committee held at Singha Durbar unanimously endorsed Sharma’s name, the committee secretariat said.

Following the committee’s endorsement, the recommendation will be forwarded to President Ramchandra Paudel for appointment. Once appointed, Sharma will serve a six-year term.

The endorsement followed the completion of Sharma’s parliamentary hearing, during which committee members questioned him on his judicial views and reform agenda. After his responses, committee chair Bodh Narayn Shrestha allowed time for supplementary questions. The hearing concluded as no further questions were raised.

The committee also reviewed 16 complaints filed against Sharma as part of the vetting process.

Sharma also presented his judicial reform plan before the committee, outlining priorities including the e-court system, reduction of case backlogs within 18 months, improved access to justice, and greater transparency in judicial appointments.

His proposals also emphasised strengthening judicial governance, accountability and efficiency in service delivery, along with reinforcing the independence of the judiciary.

Sharma was recommended for the post by the Constitutional Council on May 7. The recommendation marked a departure from seniority tradition, as Sharma is fourth in the Supreme Court’s seniority list. On March 10, the Judicial Council had forwarded the names of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla, Kumar Regmi, Hari Prasad Phuyal, Sharma, Nahakul Subedi and Til Prasad Shrestha as eligible candidates for the position.

The post has remained vacant since the retirement of former Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, with Senior Justice Malla overseeing the judiciary in an acting capacity.

Sharma earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from Nepal Law Campus and a Master of Laws degree from Savitribai Phule Pune University. He later obtained a doctorate in labour law from Tribhuvan University.

He enrolled as an advocate in 1995 and practised in various areas of law. He also advised several companies and institutions.

Sharma served as an additional judge at the appellate courts in Butwal and Patan from June 10, 2013, to December 12, 2015. He was appointed as a Supreme Court justice and assumed charge on April 19, 2019.