KATHMANDU: Manoj Kumar Sharma was sworn in as chief justice on Tuesday after receiving parliamentary hearing approval, taking the oath of office from Ram Chandra Paudel.

According to Supreme Court spokesperson Arjun Koirala, Sharma is also scheduled to assume office later on Tuesday. The Constitutional Council selected Sharma from a list of six names recommended by the Judicial Council, despite him being fourth in the Supreme Court’s seniority order.

The recommendation triggered protests from the Nepal Bar Association and others, who questioned judicial independence and transparency after the seniority tradition was bypassed. The senior-most Supreme Court judge, Sapana Pradhan Malla, was also considered a contender for the post.

The controversy deepened after the government introduced an ordinance allowing decisions by just three members of the six-member Constitutional Council. Sharma’s name was endorsed under that provision despite objections from opposition leader Vishma Raj Angdembe and National Assembly Chair Narayan Dahal.