Kathmandu, Sept. 16 -- The Judicial Council has begun filling judicial vacancies at the high courts while leaving posts vacant at the Supreme Court, despite a mounting case backlog at the top court.

A council meeting chaired by Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma on Tuesday appointed three legal practitioners as high court judges. Supreme Court Registrar Bhadrakali Pokharel, District Judge Himlal Belbase and Gajendra Bahadur Singh, director general of the Judgment Execution Directorate, were appointed to the high courts in Surkhet, Janakpur and Biratnagar, respectively.

Belbase is due to retire in four days on age grounds. Pokharel was appointed a judge as he was due to retire from his position as registrar.

The council also appointed Sup...