Dipendra Jha

Dipendra Jha (Nepali: दिपेन्द्र झा) is the first and incumbent chief attorney[1] of Province 2, one of seven provinces of Nepal. He assumed the office in February 2018. He is the legal adviser to the Chief Minister Lalbabu Raut and the Convener of Bill Drafting Facilitation Committee in Province 2. Article 160 (5) of the Constitution stipulates: "The Chief Attorney shall be the chief legal advisor to the State Government. It shall be the duty of the Chief Attorney to give opinions and advices on constitutional and legal matters to the State Government and such other authorities as the State Government may specify."

Dipendra Jha
Chief Attorney of the Province No. 2
Assumed office
18 February 2018
Appointed byRatneshwar Lal Kayastha
Personal details
Born
Dipendra Jha

(1979-07-30) July 30, 1979
Mahottari, Province No. 2 Nepal
Spouse(s)
Anu Jha
​
(m. 2004)​
Children2 (Diya Jha and Aradhya Jha)
EducationMahidol University (Master of Arts - Human Rights),
Bradford University (Master's Degree Arts-Peace and Conflict Studies),
Tribhuvan University (LLB, LLM)

Education

He has obtained a Masters of Arts (Human Rights) degree from Mahidol University in Thailand and a master's degree in Peace and Conflict studies from Bradford University in the U.K., as well as a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science and English Literature), L.L.B. and L.L.M. from the Tribhuvan University in Nepal.[2] He was awarded with International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) by the United States of America in 2014.[3]

Career

Chief Attorney

As the Chief Attorney, he has contributed and led to the enactment of several laws and policies for the Province 2 government, including Dalit Empowerment Act, State 2 Police Act, State 2 Civil Service Act, Jan Lokpal Act, Girls’ Protection Special Act.[4]

Lawyer

Before he became Chief Attorney on 18 February 2018, he practiced law at the Supreme Court of Nepal.[5] He was involved in a number of public interest litigation (PIL) cases on various key issues such as citizenship, inclusion, federalism and constitutional issues in Nepal.

As a constitution lawyer, his litigation has contributed to ensuring federalism in Nepal[6] in The Constitution of Nepal 2015. The Supreme Court of Nepal, on 20 June 2015 issued an interim order against the implementation of a 16-point agreement[7] that was agreed upon amongst the four major parties - Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist, and Nepal Democratic Forum - on 8 June 2015 to promulgate the constitution without federalism.

Although The Constitution of Nepal 2015 - which is the first constitution of the country drafted through people's elected representatives - was claimed the best constitution in the world by many,[8][9][10] his interviews[11][12] and writings[13] consistently lent to the idea that the document is controversial[14] and that it should be amended.[15] In an interview with BBC media, translated and transcribed by Nepali Timesm he writes: “Halt constitution-drafting' Advocate Dipendra Jha with Rabindra Mishra in BBC Nepali Service, 9 September"

He has been quoted and mentioned in several news reports and interview of several media, including Al Zajeera English,[16] AFP news[17] The Kathmandu Post,[18] The Himalayan Times,[19] Hindustan Times,[20] The Times of India[21] etc. on contemporary politics and constitutional and social justice issues of Nepal.

Human Rights Defender

He is a prominent human rights defender voicing the human rights concerns of the marginalised communities. He is the founder of Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (commonly known as THRD Alliance), which is an independent and active human rights non-government organization.

Author

He is the author of Federal Nepal: Trials and Tribulations,[22] which narrates the story of the constitution making process of Nepal. The book review published in The Record[23] read: "Asides from facts and figures on the marginalized, his book has anecdotes and reviews of key political events, and includes the reactions of various Nepali power-centers and the international community towards Nepal’s constitution."

As author, he also wrote Op-Ed on current affairs of politics, constitution, human rights, rule of law and democracy for The Kathmandu Post[24] and its sister publication Kantipur in Nepali language and other online news portals, including Online Khabar and Setopati.

Personal life

He married to Anu Jha in 2004. They have two daughters Diya Jha and Aradhya Jha. He and his spouse are from Mahottari District.

References
  1. "SC refuses to issue stay order on Jha's appointment as chief attorney of Province 2". The Himalayan Times. 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  2. "Accountability Watch Committee". awcnepal.org. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  3. "International Visitors Leadership Program". Retrieved 2020-10-20.
  4. 2 Assembly http://provincialassembly.p2.gov.np/प्रमाणिकरण-भएका-विधेयक/title=Province 2 Assembly Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2020-10-20. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. Board, The Editorial (2016-05-11). "Opinion | Nepal's Destructive Politics". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
  6. "Supreme Court stays 16-pt deal enforcement". Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  7. "Nepal: Document: The 16-point agreement". www.satp.org. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  8. "Nepal's constitution best in the world: Sitaula". Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  9. Tribune, Kathmandu (2017-09-19). "The Constitution of Nepal which guarantees people's supremacy - Kathmandu Tribune - Nepal's Online Daily | Latest News from Nepal and the world". Kathmandu Tribune - Nepal's Online Daily | Latest News from Nepal and the world. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  10. "PM says – Nepal's constitution is one of best constitutions in the world |". nepalforeignaffairs.com. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  11. Yadav, Anumeha. "Interview: 'For Madhesis, the first amendments to Nepal's new Constitution are a disappointment'". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  12. "Minimum demands of Madhesis, though fringe forces, should be met". Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  13. "Amendment is possible". Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  14. Haviland, Charles (2015-09-19). "Why is Nepal's new constitution controversial?". BBC News. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  15. "Suggested Amendments to the Nepal Constitution, 2072". Madhesi Youth. 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  16. "KP Sharma Oli becomes Nepal's new prime minister". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  17. "Anger in Nepal's south threatens landmark polls". Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  18. "Minimum demands of Madhesis, though fringe forces, should be met". Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  19. "'Four types of ballot paper needed'". The Himalayan Times. 2017-09-24. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  20. "'Hope in the nation is running down': Madhes in Nepal still in ferment, 10 years on". hindustantimes.com/. 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  21. "Anger in Nepal's south threatens landmark polls - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  22. mukesh-and-praveen. "Conspiracy and charades: On the making of the 2015 constitution of Nepal". The Record. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  23. mukesh-and-praveen. "Conspiracy and charades: On the making of the 2015 constitution of Nepal". The Record. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  24. "Dipendra jha". Retrieved 2017-10-01.
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