KATHMANDU: Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma has assigned senior-most Supreme Court Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla to serve as Acting Chief Justice during his five-day official visit to India.

As the highest-ranking justice on the bench, Malla was handed the acting role ahead of CJ Sharma’s departure for New Delhi on Thursday.

The administrative handover comes after a period of reported friction within the apex court.

Following the Constitutional Council’s recommendation of Sharma—who was fourth in seniority—over Malla for the top judicial post, Justice Malla had taken a 15-day leave and abstained from welcoming the new Chief Justice upon his assumption of office. However, she offered him a traditional ceremonial scarf during his official farewell on Thursday, signaling a return to routine court administration.

Chief Justice Sharma is visiting India at the invitation of Indian Chief Justice Surya Kant and is scheduled to return on Monday.

His delegation includes his wife, Uma Sharma, and Supreme Court Joint Registrar Amit Upreti.