Supreme Court Bar Bids Farewell to Chief Justice After 17 Years; Raut Says – If One Doesn’t Sell Themselves, No One Can Buy Them

After former Chief Justice Anup Raj Sharma retired in 2010, the Supreme Court Bar Association did not bid farewell to any Chief Justice. However, 17 years later, the Bar organized a farewell for retired Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut last week in the Bar Hall, along with a welcome for newly appointed Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma.

During this period, former Chief Justices Ram Prasad Shrestha, Khil Raj Regmi, Damodar Prasad Sharma, Ram Kumar Prasad Shah, Kalyan Shrestha, Sushila Karki, Gopal Parajuli, Om Prakash Mishra, Cholendra Shamsher Rana, Hari Krishna Karki, and Vishwambhar Prasad Shrestha were not given farewells by the Bar, although they were welcomed with garlands upon their appointments. The Bar previously had a tradition of warmly welcoming incoming Chief Justices and giving a proper farewell to outgoing ones simultaneously, but that practice was discontinued starting from the time of Ram Prasad Shrestha.

Speaking at the event, former Chief Justice Raut stated that judicial reform is possible if leadership is marked by integrity and honesty. He said, “If one does not sell themselves, no one can buy them.” He also remarked that while the judiciary is great from a judicial perspective, nationality and self-respect are even greater. In one context, he said, “There is something greater than justice – nationality and the motherland.” Congratulating newly appointed Chief Justice Dr. Sharma, Raut expressed his best wishes to ensure that the dignity and prestige of the judiciary do not decline.