Nepal's government filed a motion to impeach Sushila Karki after the two main parties in the coalition accused her of interference following a Supreme Court ruling last month overturning Kathmandu's choice for chief of police.
"I urge the Nepal authorities to respect the independence of the judiciary (and) to withdraw what appears to be a politically motivated impeachment motion," United Nations rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement.
Zeid pointed out that Karki had been "instrumental in a number of high-profile and politically sensitive decisions," and warned that "the attempt to remove her gives rise to serious concerns about the government's commitment to transitional justice and the rule of law."
Karki's supporters say she has taken a strong stance against corruption during her year-long tenure as head of the supreme court.
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A committee is being established to investigate the allegations of bias, after which parliament will vote on whether to impeach her.
"Recent rulings by the Supreme Court have been critical in advancing human rights in Nepal, assisting victims seeking justice for the crimes and serious human rights violations committed against them," he said.
He pointed, for instance, to the court's decision to overturn a government decision to withdraw criminal charges against people accused of serious crimes during Nepal's civil war, which ended in 2006.
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