Regmi will assume the top judicial post following confirmation by the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee after Shrestha retires on May 5.[break]
“The CC decided to name Regmi as the next chief justice of the country on the basis of his seniority, honesty, continuity, experience and his clean image,” Speaker and CC member Subas Chandra Nembang told journalists after the meeting.
Regmi, who has been serving in the judiciary for four decades, has a reputation for handing down bold verdicts.
“I will focus my entire tenure passing rulings impartially and leave no stone unturned in combating corruption within and outside the judiciary,” Regmi told Republica.
Regmi said he will fight for the cause of independent judiciary. “Fighting for independent judiciary, enhancing access to justice and maintaining free and fair environment within the judiciary will be my top priorities as a head of the judiciary,” he added.
Regmi was born on May 31, 1949 in Pokharathok- 6, Palpa district. He had joined the Supreme Court in 2003 as a temporary justice.
Regmi, who is an MA in Nepali literature, also holds a bachelor´s degree in law, will serve as CJ for about 3 years and a month 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 detainees arrested by the royal government in 2005 and 2006.
“I vow that I will give up all personal interest and work for the sake of the nation and the people as per the constitution and law,” he said.
Regmi recently shared with Chief Justice Shrestha the bench that convicted former minister Chiranjibi Wagle of corruption.
Also recently, he shared a bench that issued a bold order to strengthen the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. 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 and exercise the powers of a CIAA commissioner as per provisions of the Interim Constitution. Following that order, the CIAA has geared up investigations scams including the one related to substandard logistics supplied to Nepali peacekeepers in Sudan. 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 reparations to the victimized families and form a commission to find out the whereabouts of the disappeared.
Regmi was also 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 as per the recommendations of various committees headed 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. The parliament has already passed the Act thereby providing a broad jurisdiction to appellate courts.
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