NATIONAL 9 (Spotlight Weelky)]

Courtly Choice

Dahal becomes the youngest civil servant in the judicial service to reach the top of the ladder

By A CORRESPONDENT

After King Birendra appointed him as secretary at the Judicial Council, Kashi Raj Dahal became the youngest bureaucrat in the judicial service to reach the top of the hierarchy. Forty-two-year-old Dahal is a well-known cadre of the judicial service. Having entered the service in 2040 as a section officer, Dahal climbed up the ranks to become assistant secretary, under secretary and joint secretary.

The Judicial Council has the major responsibility in the recruitment, promotion and transfer of officers in the judiciary service and judges in the country. According to the Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990, another important function of the council is the disciplining of judges. The council’s jurisdiction also includes making timely suggestions on issues related to judicial administration.

Dahal : Deserving candidate

"I am committed to the professional development of judicial cadre and I will perform my duty in accordance with the responsibility given by the act," said Dahal. "I will work in a transparent manner in the transfer of the judges and other employees."

Born in Lekhani Pokhari of Udayapur district in eastern Nepal, Dahal has master’s degrees in political science and public administration. He secured the top position in B.L. examination, winning a gold medal. Dahal has published more than half a dozen books in the areas of women and child rights, constitutional law, criminal jurisprudence and industrial law.

The Judicial Council also has responsibility to submit recommendations to the King on the sacking of judges and to take action against judges of the Appellate Court. It organizes training, seminars and other activities with an aim to increase the skills and efficiency of personnel in the judicial service.

The Judicial Council Act 1990 also gives certain important duties to the council, including preparing and updating the bio-data of potential candidates for appointment as judges. Dahal, who has held several positions in many bodies, has also taught at Nepal Law College of Tribhuvan University. Before his appointment as secretary, Dahal worked as spokesman of the Supreme Court. He has participated in several seminars and is associated with committees formed by the government.

Dahal was also associated with Constitution Recommendation Commission 1990 and the high-level Mallik Commission. As an active member of Nepal Law Society, Dahal has visited various parts of the country to train decentralization workers.

Although the Judicial Council was formed a decade ago, it is yet to develop a proper work pattern and sort out other vital issues. "My first priority will be to develop the working modality for the transfer and promotion of the employees working in the judicial sector," said Dahal. "I have already started to develop a transparent mechanism for the transfer of judicial officials."

Dahal’s job is not easy. Transfers of the gazetted judicial employees and others have largely been done on an ad hoc basis. On many occasions, political influence has played a role. As member secretary of Judicial Service Commission, Dahal also has the responsibility to recommend the appointment, transfer and promotion and departmental action against people holding the rank of up to gazetted III class officer. The commission also prepares curriculum for the examination for the judicial service.

At a time when everyone is talking about the need to make the judicial system more efficient, the kind of changes Dahal brings would be closely watched.