Chief Justices of Nepal: Complete List (1951-Present)

The Chief Justice of Nepal is the highest-ranking judge in the country and the administrative head of the Nepali judiciary. The office dates to 1951, when Hari Prasad Pradhan was appointed to lead Nepal's newly created apex court, the Pradhan Nyayalaya. When the Supreme Court of Nepal (Sarbochcha Adalat) was formally established on 21 May 1956, the role of Chief Justice carried over as the head of the new court, a position it has occupied ever since.

Under the current Constitution of Nepal 2072 (2015), the Chief Justice is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, which is chaired by the Prime Minister. The role combines judicial leadership with constitutional duties, including chairing the Judicial Council that recommends other judges and sitting on the Constitutional Council itself.

The Constitution of Nepal 2072, Article 129, governs the appointment and qualifications of the Chief Justice and the judges of the Supreme Court. The President appoints the Chief Justice on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, while other Supreme Court judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Judicial Council. A nominee must also pass a parliamentary hearing before assuming office.

To be eligible, a person must have served as a judge of the Supreme Court for at least three years. Article 129(4) sets the Chief Justice's term at six years from the date of appointment, but Article 131 makes the office vacant on attaining the age of 65. In practice, because most appointees reach 65 well before completing six years, very few Chief Justices have served anything close to a full term, and many tenures have lasted only months.

Before 1951 Nepal lacked an independent apex court. Following the end of Rana rule and the restoration of the monarchy under King Tribhuvan, the Pradhan Nyayalaya (literally 'Chief Court' or 'Apex Court') was created to serve as the country's highest tribunal. Hari Prasad Pradhan, a jurist educated in law who had practised in West Bengal and Sikkim, was appointed its first Chief Justice in 1951.

The Pradhan Nyayalaya functioned as the apex court from 1951 until 1956. On 21 May 1956 it was replaced by the Supreme Court of Nepal, established under new judicial legislation. The handover is reflected in the chronology: Hari Prasad Pradhan's first term ended on 20 May 1956, and Anirudra Prasad Singh became the first head of the new Supreme Court the following day. Pradhan is also remembered as the Chief Justice who allowed women to practise law in Nepal.

The following lists the heads of Nepal's apex court from 1951 through the early 1990s, with appointment and end dates. The first two entries span the transition from the Pradhan Nyayalaya to the Supreme Court. Note that Hari Prasad Pradhan returned for a second, non-consecutive term in 1961-1963, making him unique among Nepal's Chief Justices.

The 1990 People's Movement and the Constitution of 1990 reshaped Nepal's polity, and the judiciary's profile rose with it. Bishwonath Upadhyaya, who led the commission that drafted the 1990 Constitution, served as Chief Justice from 1991. The period that followed saw a rapid succession of holders, many serving short terms because of the age-65 retirement rule.

The most recent era includes notable episodes such as Khil Raj Regmi simultaneously serving as Chief Justice and as head of the interim government in 2013-2014, a controversial blurring of judicial and executive roles. It also saw Sushila Karki become the first woman to hold the office in 2016, and Cholendra Shumser JBR become the subject of an impeachment motion before his term lapsed. After Prakash Man Singh Raut retired in early 2026, the office stood vacant until Manoj Kumar Sharma was sworn in on 19 May 2026.

Several individuals stand out in the history of the office. Hari Prasad Pradhan was both the first Chief Justice and the only person to hold the post in two separate terms, and he is credited with opening legal practice to women. Bishwonath Upadhyaya bridged the role of constitution-drafter and Chief Justice after the 1990 movement.

Sushila Karki broke the gender barrier in 2016 as the first woman Chief Justice; her tenure became internationally noted when a politically charged impeachment motion was filed against her in 2017, which was ultimately withdrawn before she retired on reaching age 65. Khil Raj Regmi remains an unusual case in any democracy, having headed both the judiciary and the government during the 2013-2014 interim period.