News and Views on Tibet

Last serving judge of Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission officially concludes tenure

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The last serving and outgoing judge of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission Tenzin Lungtok (Photo/CTA)

Tenzin Nyidon 

DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 10: Justice Commissioner Tenzin Lungtok, the last serving judge of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission (TSJC)—the apex judicial body of the Tibetan Government in Exile—officially concluded his five-year tenure on January 9. Appointed on January 10, 2020, his departure marks a critical juncture for the TSJC, which currently has no serving justices.

The end of Justice Lungtok’s term follows the recent amendment to Article 63, Section 4 of the Tibetan Charter during the eighth session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament in Exile. The amendment passed with a two-thirds majority, revised the tenure of the two additional Justice Commissioners to match that of the Chief Justice Commissioner. The updated clause states, ”The tenure of the other two Justice Commissioners shall continue for a term of five years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier.” This change directly impacted Justice Lungtok, whose five-year term concluded before reaching the age limit.

The absence of justices in the TSJC marks significant challenges for the judiciary. The Chief Justice Commissioner’s post has remained vacant since November 15, 2023, following the retirement of Sonam Norbu Dagpo. Acting Chief Justice Commissioner Karma Dadul also retired on June 30, 2023, after serving the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) for 46 years.

Over the past three years, debates in the Tibetan Parliament have highlighted deep divisions over judicial qualifications and appointments. A total of six amendment proposals concerning the criteria for TSJC judges failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority. However, during the eighth session of the 17th TPiE, the Parliament extended an exemption in the Charter that permits the appointment of judges without strictly adhering to Article 63, Section 2(c)—a clause requiring five years of judicial experience or 10 years as an advocate. Initially set to expire in 2021, this exemption has been extended until 2031.

As the TSJC faces a leadership vacuum, concerns grow about its functionality and the broader implications for judicial stability within the Tibetan exile government. It is anticipated that the Parliament will address judicial appointments in its forthcoming sessions to ensure the TSJC remains a robust institution.

Justice Tenzin Lungtok, the outgoing judge of the Supreme Justice Commission, has dedicated over 28 years of service to the CTA. His service began on September 11, 1995, as Under Secretary in the Department of Security. On October 10, 1996, he transferred to the Department of Education, where he was promoted to Deputy Secretary on February 9, 1999.

On August 5, 2002, he was transferred to the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office in Kathmandu, Nepal, and later transferred to the Bir Tibetan Settlement Office as its Settlement Officer on 11 March 2003. On July 12, 2004, he was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Public Service Commission. Subsequently, on February 28, 2005, he was promoted to Joint Secretary in the Department of Finance. As Joint Secretary, he held positions in the Department of Home and the Election Commission from August 2006 to May 2012.

On May 15, 2012, he was elevated to Additional Secretary, and on August 8, 2016, he assumed the role of Acting Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture. He was appointed Secretary of the same department on May 22, 2017. During his tenure, on September 23, 2019, he was elected as an Additional Justice of the Supreme Justice Commission.

Justice Tenzin Lungtok served as Justice from January 10, 2020, to January 9, 2025, marking the culmination of a distinguished career in service to the CTA and the Tibetan community.

One Response

  1. There’s a sense of a poignant ending when a dedicated person has to leave the scene due to natural expiry date. All achievements and mistakes by this person is now in the past, and no longer relevant 2025. Now new zeitgeist has come. Religion, politics, culture etc are something people valued in the bygone years, but now it is all about the present, not past, and focus is on power games while adhering to region and root gurus such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, emanation of Chenresig and savior of all 6 million helpless, downtrodden Tibetan people who are abandoned by all Western countries such as America and Europe in return for scams and manipulation by evil socialist Chinese government. Tibetans are right wing and capitalist by nature and communist sympathisers in Europe is harming Tibetan Religion and culture and legacy of HH Dalai Lama, without whom tibet will be as bad as Nepal or Poland, or Ukraine or Eastern European states. We aren’t there yet.

    Truth will prevail in the end. And may HH Dai Lama teaching on kindness vanquish the world from evil.

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