The lawyers' umbrella organisation maintains that the JC move is against the constitution. The council had issued a 10-day notice on Wednesday seeking applications from the eligible candidates for the post of apex court justices.

The NBA's decision comes hot on the heels of a similar move by the Bar's advisory committee earlier in the day. Three permanent positions of apex court justices are vacant. As per the constitution any one “who has worked as a judge of an Appellate Court or in any equivalent post in the judicial service for at least seven years, or has worked as a gazetted first class officer or above in the judicial service for at least twelve years, or has practised law for at least 15 years as a law graduate advocate or senior advocate, or a distinguished jurist who has worked for at least 15 years in the judicial or legal field is eligible for appointment as a judge at the Supreme Court.”

“The decision of Judicial Council has undervalued the position of Supreme Court justices,” said NBA General Secretary Sunil Pokharel. In a statement issued on Monday, the Bar said it will be submitting a memorandum to the JC in this regard.