Jha was born to Nepali parents and brought up in Darbhanga district in the Indian state of Bihar; this took place at his maternal uncle's home, according to Hindu traditions.

[3] He began his first term of office as Vice-President of Nepal on 23 July 2008 by taking the oath of office from President Ram Baran Yadav at the Sheetal Niwas Presidential Palace in Maithili (despite he intended to take oath in Hindi) in the presence of Prime Minister Girijaprasad Koirala and others.

Jha's legitimacy as vice-president was challenged for taking the oath of office in Hindi[4] by Nepalis.

A written petition was filed by Advocate Balkrishna Neupane at the apex court claiming that the oath was unconstitutional as it was taken in a language not recognized by the interim constitution.

He stated that he would decide whether or not to retake the oath after consulting political parties and the "people he represents," i.e., the Madhesias who principally speak Maithili and Bhojpuri.