Kathmandu, Oct. 26 -- On October 6, the Judicial Council recommended four judges from the High Courts for appointment to the Supreme Court, but left one position unfilled despite having the option to recommend five candidates, including for a vacancy expected to arise shortly.

The council, led by Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma, recommended Ratna Bahadur Bagchand, chief judge of the High Court in Pokhara, and High Court judges Chandra Bahadur Saru, Janak Pandey, and Gokarna Dangi.

The recommendations have disappointed judges who began their careers in district courts and advanced through the judicial hierarchy. Before the appointments, Sharma had said he would give priority to career judges, a term used for judges who enter the judicia...