Regmi next chief justice

KATHMANDU, April 8: A Constitutional Council (CC) meeting scheduled for Monday is all set to name seniormost Justice of the Supreme Court Khil Raj Regmi as successor to incumbent Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha, who is retiring on May 5.

A knowledgeable Baluwatar source informed Republica that the CC meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday and a verbal agreement has been reached among CC members to name Regmi as the next chief justice, the fourth highest post in the country.


Regmi, who has been serving in the judiciary for the last 40 years, has a clean image and a reputation for handing down bold verdicts, in particular, one to strengthen the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

Originally from Pokharathok- 6, Palpa district, Regmi was born on May 31, 1949. He will assume the top judicial post following confirmation by the Parliamentary Hearings Special Committee on May 6. Regmi joined the Supreme Court in 2003 as a temporary justice.

"A CC meeting to be held at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (PMO) on Monday, will recommend Regmi´s name as per the tradition of appointing the seniormost SC justice to the post," the source informed Republica.

Regmi, who has not courted any controversy to date, will serve as CJ for about 2 years and 10 months starting from May.

Regmi came into the limelight when his bench released political detainees during the king´s direct rule in 2005. The precedent led to the release of hundreds of political leaders and cadres arrested by the royal government in 2005 and 2006.

Regmi recently shared with Chief Justice Shrestha the bench that convicted former minister Chiranjibi Wagle on corruption charges. Also recently, he shared a bench that issued a bold order to strength the CIAA.

A writ petition was filed at the SC against CIAA Secretary Bhagwati Kafle claiming that a decision to delegate powers to him including the power to file cases was inappropriate. Regmi´s bench upheld the decision saying the CIAA secretary can file cases in exercise of the powers of a CIAA commissioner as per provisions of the interim constitution. Following that order, the CIAA has geared up investigations into the Sudan scam and other matters. Regmi´s bench paved the way for the CIAA to file cases based on the findings of the Lamsal Commission.

Another landmark verdict in which Regmi was involved was the directive issued to the government to file cases against those found guilty in disappearing people. Regmi´s bench also ordered the government to provide compensation to victim families and form a commission to establish the whereabouts of disappeared persons.

Regmi was likewise involved in passing a ruling directing government authorities to protect women and children from various forms of violence.

Dozens of regulations related to the judicial service were amended under the recommendations of committees heded by Regmi. It was a Regmi-led committee that introduced the mediation system in Nepal. Only recently, a Regmi-led committee forwarded important suggestions for amending the Judicial Administration Act. Parliament has already passed the Act thereby providing a broad jurisdiction to appellate courts.