Shrestha, who has been serving in the judiciary for the last 34 years, has the reputation of passing bold verdicts, especially during the king´s direct rule and has a clean image. [break]
“My top priority will be to provide speedy justice in hassle-free manner,” Shrestha said. He was born in 2003 B.S and has an MA in political science and a bachelor´s degree in law.
He will assume the top judicial post following confirmation by the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee. Shrestha joined the Supreme Court on January 29, 2003 as a temporary judge.
"A CC meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) on Tuesday recommended Shrestha´s name respecting the tradition of appointing the senior-most SC justice for the post," Law and Justice Minister Prem Bahadur Singh told myrepublica.com.
Main opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is an ex-officio member of the CC, was absent at the meeting. CC Act however, says that the decision taken in the absence of one CC member shall be valid. Except Dahal, all seven CC members were present at the meeting.
Shrestha´s landmark decisions
- Abolition of RCCC
- Ban on illegal conversion of Guthi land into private land
- Decision on releasing hundreds of political detainees
- Decision to take legal action against Maina Sunar killers
Dahal cited his busy schedule for not attending the meeting. He had also boycotted the CC meeting while naming incumbent Chief Justice Sharma nearly five months ago.
Noted constitutional lawyer Madhav Basnet also confirmed that the CC´s decision to name Shrestha for the next chief justice in Dahal´s absence becomes valid.
"After taking oath of office and secrecy, I will focus my attention on expediting backlog cases, Shrestha said Tuesday, adding, "My priority will be to clean up the judiciary and deliver impartial justice."
Shrestha, who has not courted any controversy till date, will serve for 14 months starting March 27 in the capacity of CJ.
Shrestha said he would give priority to implementing a recently submitted report on ´how to clean the judiciary´ prepared by a panel headed by him.
Shrestha was in the limelight when a bench comprising him released political detainees during the king´s direct rule in 2005. The precedent had led to the release of hundreds of political leaders and cadres arrested by the king-led government in 2005 and 2006.
He also shared a bench that banned the conversion of trust (Guthi) land worth billions of rupees into Raikar (private ownership).
Another landmark verdict in which Shrestha was involved was the dissolution of the all-powerful Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) which was set up by the then King Gyanendra Shah.
The commission had served as a tool to silence politicians who opposed the king´s direct rule.
A staunch democrat, Shrestha was also involved in passing a verdict directing government authorities to punish culprits involved in the killing of Maina Sunar.
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