Chief Justice of India Makes Historic Visit to Nepal

Chief Justice of India Dr. Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal on Friday for a historic three-day official visit at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart, Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha. This marks the first time a sitting Chief Justice of India has paid an official visit to Nepal.

Why this matters: This historic visit strengthens thebilateral ties between India and Nepal, fostering cooperation and exchange of ideas between the judiciaries of the two nations. It also highlights the importance of regional collaboration in addressing critical issues like juvenile justice, which has far-reaching implications for the welfare of children and the development of society as a whole.

Upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Chief Justice Chandrachud was welcomed by Dr. Anand Mohan Bhattarai, the senior-most justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal, along with Chief Registrar Devendra Dhakal and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava. "This is for the first time in history that any sitting Chief Justice of India paid an official visit to Nepal on record," stated Ved Prasad Upreti, spokesperson for the Supreme Court of Nepal.

The centerpiece of Chief Justice Chandrachud's visit will be his participation as the keynote speaker at the National Conference on Juvenile Justice System in Kathmandu on Saturday. Organized by the Central Juvenile Justice Coordination Committee, the conference aims to address key issues and challenges related tojuvenile justicein Nepal. Chandrachud's speech is expected to provide valuable insights into India's approach to this critical area of law.

In addition to the conference, Chief Justice Chandrachud is scheduled to hold a meeting with Chief Justice Shrestha on Saturday evening to discuss matters of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation between the judiciaries of India and Nepal. Following the meeting, Chief Justice Shrestha will host a banquet in honor of his Indian counterpart.

The visit of theChief Justice of Indiato Nepal holds great significance, as it underscores the close ties and ongoing cooperation between the judicial systems of the two neighboring countries. Nepal and India share a long history of judicial collaboration, with regular exchanges and interactions between judges and legal professionals at various levels.

Chief Justice Chandrachud's trip coincides with the visit of another high-level Indian official, Comptroller and Auditor General Girish Chandra Murmu, who held meetings with Nepali leaders, including Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Finance Minister Barshaman Pun. Murmu and his Nepali counterpart, Auditor General Tanka Mani Sharma, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday to promote cooperation in the field of public sector auditing.

Chief Justice Chandrachud is accompanied by his wife Kalpana Das, along with Registrar of the Supreme Court of India Rakesh Kumar and Coat Master Chetan Arora. The delegation is scheduled to return to India on Sunday evening after completing their official engagements in Nepal.

Key Takeaways

• Chief Justice of India Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud arrives in Kathmandu for a 3-day official visit.
• This is the first time a sitting Chief Justice of India has paid an official visit to Nepal.
• Chandrachud will keynote the National Conference on Juvenile Justice System in Kathmandu.
• He will meet with Nepali counterpart Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha to discuss bilateral cooperation.
• The visit aims to strengthen India-Nepal bilateral ties and foster judicial cooperation.