Judicial Council goes inclusive: Bagchand, a Dalit lawyer, appointed judge of an appellate court

Nepaldalitinfo Special Report

Mr. Ratna Bahadur Bagchand has been appointed to the position of a appellate court judge for the Court of Appeals in Nepalganj. This is the first instance in the history of Nepal and in the six decade long modern judicial history in the country that anyone from a Dalit community has been appointed to the judiciary position of a judge. This has been possible now, because 40% of 70 judges appointed by Judicial Council were taken from the qualified lawyers outside the judiciary service of Nepal. It is indeed a great achievement in Dalits’ struggle to have access to judiciary machinery.

The machinery of Nepal’s judiciary, one of the three branches of the state, has managed to systematically exclude the marginalized communities, especially Dalit and indigenous communities, from the time immemorial. Judiciary has always remained to date an exclusive domain of so-called high caste people, especially Bahuns, Chhetris, Newars, and Rajputs as if they only inherit any job positions in the judicial offices. In its 60 year long modern judicial history in the country, there was an absolute absence of Dalits holding any position in the courts. Now, we have our man in court, who will inspire all other young lawyers from Dalit community to aim at sitting in the court benches.

Nepaldalitinfo International Network at this juncture congratulates Mr. Bagchand for his respectable and well deserved appointment as judge in the court of law, and hopes that he will do justice to all people without any prejudice, make no personal gains taking advantage of the people, and ultimately rise to the top position of Chief Justice one day not too far away. Also, in our struggle of putting a person from Dalit community in the court bench, all of the members of nepaldalitinfo should rejoice this achievement as our success. The Nepaldalitinfo Network has been voicing for an inclusive judiciary system with the appointment of a Dalit judge.

Report by:
Bhakti Nepal/ Saroj Dillu
Nepaldalitinfo International Network

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16 Comments »

  1. Comment by Mitra Pariyar — September 7, 2009 @ 5:35 pm

    Dear Justice Bagchand

    You have made a history!! And you have made us all endlessly proud.

    Please use your judgement and skills and experiences to show a difference in Nepal’s judiciary. All the best for your better future in the judicial system of Nepal that had been hitherto out of bounds for us.

    Mitra Pariyar
    Oxford University
    England

  2. Comment by Ananta Yatri — September 7, 2009 @ 5:37 pm

    I would like to pay hearty congratulations to Mr Ratna Bahadur Bagchand who is apointed in judge first from Dalit community, and wish for successful management of the position.

  3. Comment by Man BK — September 7, 2009 @ 5:39 pm

    It is a great happening for whole Dalit/deprived communities. Congratulations to Ratna Bagchand ji.
    Man Bk

  4. Comment by Saroj Dillu — September 7, 2009 @ 5:41 pm

    It’s a history breakthrough in the judiciary sector that Mr. Bagchand has been appointed as a judge in the appellate court of Nepalgunj. I coardilly pay congratulations to him, hoping his appointment will help to ensure sure Dalit rights
    Sarojdillu

  5. Comment by Dillip Kumar Nepali — September 7, 2009 @ 5:43 pm

    Yes, i am agree with Mitra Pariyar. Many many congratulations to Ratna Babadur Bagchand. Badhai ra Suvakamana.

    Kind Regards,
    Dilip Kumar Nepali
    Now in Mexico City

  6. Comment by Pratik — September 7, 2009 @ 5:44 pm

    Congratulations Bagchand Sir… A historic achievement…

    Pratik

  7. Comment by Prakash Chandra Pariyar — September 7, 2009 @ 5:46 pm

    Congratulations!
    Heartly Congratulations!
    First Dalit Justice Ratna Bahadur Bagchand.
    First Dalit Academician Ram Saran Darnal.
    (Jagadamba Shree Awarded) Two Lakhs Prize
    First Dalit Women Asst. Minister Kalwati Devi Dusad .
    Fist Muslim Women State Minister Karima Begam.
    Who Create History in the Community.

    Regards
    PC Pariyar

  8. Comment by Dr. DP Rasali — September 7, 2009 @ 5:51 pm

    Hearty congratulations to Mr. Ratna Bahadur Bagchand for being appointed to the position of a appellate court judge. Not doubt, you will make a respectable and well deserved judge in the court of law. I sincerey, hope, you will do justice to all people without any prejudice, make no personal gains at the cost of the people, and ultimately rise to the top position of Chief Justice one day not too far away.
    Dr. DP Rasali
    Founder, Nepaldalitinfo

  9. Comment by DB Sagar — September 7, 2009 @ 5:53 pm

    Congratulations Mr. Ratna Baghchand. You made history in judiciary field.

    Good luck.

    DB Sagar Bishwokarma
    President, DNF

  10. Comment by Subas BK — September 7, 2009 @ 6:08 pm

    Dear Bachand Sir,
    The greatest gift you are giving to our community is your valuable time. Now you are responsible chair of judgment and I wish you all the best to your role on the rights and the assignment of rewards and punishments.

    CONGRATULATION!

    Subas BK
    Canada

  11. Comment by Manoj Bishwokarma — September 7, 2009 @ 8:00 pm

    This is the pride of all nepalese and Nepal that Nepas has made a new history by appointing Mr.Raatna Bahadur Bagchand as judge of appelate court of Nepal from dalit community.

    I would like to congratulate Mr. Bagchand and wish him very success of this tenure. I hope his successful accomplishment of the tenure will open the door of supreme court.

  12. Comment by Ashutosh — September 8, 2009 @ 12:07 am

    Congratulations Ratna Jee. And, thanks to Judicial Council. Actually, it is not the history Ratna has made in judiciary, as Mitra says, but the inclusive polity (followed by the Judicial Council)of the country that made history.

    Many such importannt appointments or inclusions of Dalit in state structures including in the ministry have obviously proved to be beneficial only for those who were appointed or included, not for Dalit community. I hope Ratna will disprove it

    Ashutosh

  13. Comment by Samir Ghimire — September 8, 2009 @ 11:19 pm

    I would like to extend my heartiest congratulation to Bagchand Sir for being appointed as an honorable judge of Appellate Court.
    His historical achievement has brought great pride for entire dalit movement and I wish him for his successful tenure in Judiciary.

  14. Comment by Bhupananda BK — September 10, 2009 @ 11:43 pm

    Congratulation to Mr.Ratna Bdr.Bagchand for his historical achievement.His appointment as judge is great pleasure for entire Dalit Community. I wish him for his great success.

  15. Comment by Bishnu Singh Baiju — September 13, 2009 @ 8:05 am

    The Honorable Ratna Bahadur Bagchanda
    The Court of Appeals,Nepalganj

    Finally, you have it made. Congratulation!

    However, this is just a beginning. The goal ahead you have is to prove that the Dalit Judge can give quick, free,fair and impartial judgement to the public without being a corrupt judge like others so that the public have confidence in the Dalit Judges.

    Love you,

    Your Bishnu Dai

    Bishnu Singh Baiju

  16. Pingback by The Nepaldalitinfo International » Chief Justice thanked for appointing a Dalit as Judge — September 17, 2009 @ 8:27 am

    […] of LANCAU. Report by: Shyam Nepal RELATED NEWS: Judicial Council goes inclusive: Bagchand, a Dalit lawyer, appointed judge of an appellate court

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