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Bishwonath Upadhyaya

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Bishwonath Upadhyaya
Bishwanath Upadhyay during CAN Infotech 2006 at Kathmandu.
Chief Justice of Nepal
In office
8 December 1991 – 22 September 1995
Preceded byDhanendra Bahadur Singh
Succeeded bySurendra Prasad Singh
Personal details
Born(1930-10-13)13 October 1930
Malangawa, Nepal
Died30 January 2014(2014-01-30) (aged 83)
Bansbari, Nepal
Children4

Bishwonath Upadhyaya (Nepali: विश्वनाथ उपाध्याय) (13 October 1930 – 30 January 2014) was the Chief Justice of Nepal from 1991 to 1995. He had previously served as chairman of the 1990 constitution drafting committee.[1][2]

Early life

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He was born in 1930 in Malangwa Sarlahi. He is survived by four sons, He was living with his eldest son in Kathmandu, His three other sons live in the US. He started his career in government service as legal officer in Nepal Rastra Bank in 1955 and later entered the Ministry of Law.[2]

Famous For

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The apex court bench led by him reinstated the parliament dissolved by then Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari on 28 August 1995.[2] The bench had a bench of 11 members which made its decision by a vote of eight to three. The parliament was dissolved by the King Birendra at the recommendation of then prime minister Man Mohan Adhikari as a pre-emptive move to avert a no-confidence motion tabled by the opposition. Lawmakers from the communist party have been trying to file impeachment motions in the parliament against him.[3]

The Supreme Court has still been following the precedent set by him, he is known for his bold and proactive judge, when it comes to defining the issues of constitution and human rights.[2]

He headed the constitution drafting committee of 1990, is also credited for his role in evolving Nepal's judiciary as separate institution.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Former CJ Bishwonath Upadhyaya passes away". The Himalayan Times. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e Ex-CJ Upadhyay cremated at Aryaghat. The Kathmandu Post. 31 January 2014.
  3. ^ The Nepal Digest (27 September 1995). "New chief justice appointed in Nepal". TND Foundation. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017.
Legal offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of Nepal
1991 – 1995
Succeeded by