Nepal, Aug. 20 -- The relationship between the Nepal Bar Association and the leadership of the judiciary has not been cordial since Prime Minister Balendra Shah-led Constitutional Council recommended Manoj Sharma, the fourth-ranked justice at the Supreme Court, as chief justice on May 7. The move, the umbrella body of lawyers across the country said, was intended to place the judiciary under the shadow of the executive.

Now, the Bar has raised concerns over Sharma's decision to bring six writ petitions related to the Property Investigation Commission before the Constitutional Bench he leads. In practice, it is the respective bench that conducts preliminary hearings and decides which kind of bench should hear a case further. However, the ...