The long fight for justice
Summary
Former chief justice Kalyan Shrestha is being recognized for a lifetime of judicial reform, constitutional jurisprudence and access-to-justice advocacy. His landmark rulings challenged military interference, corruption, conflict-era impunity and limits on state power in Nepal.
Key Points
- Kalyan Shrestha received the ACES Lifetime Achievement Award in Kuala Lumpur and used the platform to stress the importance of the rule of law and independent institutions.
- The article highlights his record as Nepal’s 24th chief justice, including work on constitutional interpretation, environmental protection, gender equality, reproductive rights and transitional justice.
- His judicial legacy includes landmark rulings on military appointments, corruption cases, conflict-era accountability and the limits of amnesty for serious human rights violations.
- Cambridge University Press featured Shrestha in Towering Judges, underscoring his international recognition as a leading constitutional jurist.
