KATHMANDU: Former Chief Justice (CJ) of Nepal Kalyan Shrestha has received the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asia Region ACSI Awards in recognition of his contributions to judicial independence, human rights protection and judicial reform.
Shrestha, who served as the 24th chief justice of the Supreme Court, has contributed to making Nepal’s judicial system more transparent, accountable and accessible to the public. He has consistently advocated for constitutional supremacy, the rule of law and democratic values.
His judicial contributions include landmark rulings and initiatives concerning the protection of fundamental rights, the rights of marginalized communities, environmental justice and transitional justice.
According to the award citation, Shrestha has also contributed to the adoption of technology in the judiciary, improvements in case management and capacity building for judicial personnel.
He has advocated expanding legal aid, promoting public interest litigation, and advancing gender equality and social inclusion to ensure equal access to justice for all citizens.
Even after retiring from the judiciary, Shrestha has remained active in legal studies, constitutional debates and good governance initiatives.
The award citation noted that his commitment to constitutional values, human dignity and judicial independence had established an important example of judicial leadership in Nepal and across the Asian region.
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