Nepal Appoints Prakash Man Singh Raut as Chief Justice

Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel on Sunday appointed Prakash Man Singh Raut as the new Chief Justice of the country. Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Chief Justice Raut at a special ceremony organized at Sheetal Niwas, the President’s Office.

Presence at Ceremony

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including 

• Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, 
• Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, 
• Speaker Devraj Ghimire, and 
• Chairman of the National Assembly Narayan Prasad Dahal.

Parliamentary Endorsement  

• Raut received a unanimous endorsement from the parliamentary hearing committee during a meeting on October 2. 
• His appointment aligns with Article 129, Clause 2 of the Constitution of Nepal. 

Constitutional Council Recommendation

• The Constitutional Council convened on September 16 and recommended Raut for the Chief Justice position.

Successor to Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha

• Raut’s appointment fills the vacancy left by Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, who retired on October 5 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.

Legal Background

• Practiced law from 1983 to 2016 and served as President of the Supreme Court Bar Association in 2006.
• Raut has extensive experience, having served as a Supreme Court Justice since August 1, 2016. 
• He holds a Bachelor’s degree in law from Tribhuvan University and has specialized in civil, criminal, and constitutional law.

Future Role

• As Chief Justice, Raut is expected to uphold justice and the rule of law, leveraging his extensive legal background to enhance Nepal’s judicial system.
• His legal expertise and commitment to integrity suggest a promising future for Nepal’s judicial system.