Court:
(1) The Supreme Court shall consist of a maximum of twenty
Judges, in addition to the Chief Justice of Nepal.
(2) The President shall appoint the Chief Justice, on recommendation of
the Constitutional Council, and other Judges of the Supreme Court, on
recommendation of the Judicial Council.
(3) Any person who has served as a Judge of the Supreme Court for at
least three years shall be qualified for appointment as the Chief Justice.
(4) The term of office of the Chief Justice shall be six years.
(5) Any citizen of Nepal who has obtained a bachelor’s degree in law
and served as the Chief Judge or a Judge of a High Court for at least five years or
who has obtained a bachelor’s degree in law and constantly practiced law as a
senior advocate or advocate for at least fifteen years or who is a distinguished
jurist having constantly worked for at least fifteen years in the judicial or legal
field or who has served in the post of Gazetted first class or a higher post of the
Judicial Service for at least twelve years shall be deemed qualified for
appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
 
Explanation: The period during which one has served as the Chief Judge or Judge
of an Appellate Court prior to the commencement of this Constitution shall, for the
purposes of this clause, be deemed to be the period of service in the capacity of the
Chief Judge or Judge of the High Court.
(6) If the office of the Chief Justice falls vacant or the Chief Justice is
unable to carry out the duties of his or her office by reason of illness or otherwise
or he or she cannot be present in the Supreme Court by reason of a leave of absence or his or her being outside of Nepal, the senior-most Judge of the Supreme
Court shall act as the Acting Chief Justice.