May 08, Kathmandu - Six petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Constitutional Council's decision to recommend Manoj Kumar Sharma for the position of Chief Justice. 

Senior lawyer Dinesh Tripathi, along with lawyers Prem Raj Silwal and Bipin Dhakal, submitted the petitions on Friday. However, the Supreme Court administration has not yet registered these cases, as they are still under review, according to Supreme Court spokesperson and Registrar Arjun Prasad Koirala.

"The six petitions have been filed and are currently under study," Koirala stated.

The Constitutional Council's meeting on Thursday recommended Manoj Kumar Sharma, currently the fourth-ranked judge, for the top judicial position. The decision has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that the recommendation violates the separation of powers enshrined in the constitution and could threaten judicial independence. 

Additionally, there are calls to recommend Acting Chief Justice Sapa Pradhan Mall for the position. 

Notably, the decision faced dissent from the Chairperson of the National Assembly, Narayan Prasad Dahal, and the opposition parliamentary leader of the Nepali Congress, Bhishmaraj Angdembe, who both submitted dissent notes. The opposition parties, including the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, have also voiced their disagreement with the decision. 

Social media platforms are abuzz with discussions and debates over the controversy. Following the recommendation of Sharma, judges of the Supreme Court held a discussion on Friday morning, which delayed the release of the official list of nominations.