CJI Surya Kant met Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in Thimphu, reaffirming stronger judicial cooperation between India and Bhutan. They discussed digitizing Bhutan’s judiciary and expanding technical support while strengthening long-standing bilateral ties through future judicial partnerships.
NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant met Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in Thimphu and pledged broad support for technical assistance and the development of best practices in digitising and digitalising the Himalayan kingdom’s judicial processes.
A Supreme Court press release said CJI Kant was granted an audience with the King, during which they exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral ties between India and Bhutan.
The statement said,
“They discussed the deep and long-lasting relationship shared by the two countries and expressed a commitment to taking the cooperation forward in the shape of judicial partnerships,”
It said,
“CJI Kant offered extensive and comprehensive support for technical assistance and development of best practices in the digitisation and digitalisation of judicial processes in Bhutan,”
The release added that the two leaders also considered the growing threat of cybercrime and discussed ways India and Bhutan could collaborate to prevent and prosecute such offences.
The statement said,
“The conversations reaffirmed the cultural, spiritual and intellectual bond between the two countries and the resolve to sustain the exchange of ideas, philosophies and support,”
Earlier MoU with The Bhutan’s apex court
Earlier on 5th January, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant announced that the Supreme Court had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bhutan’s apex court to enable the exchange of young legal professionals.
At the start of the proceedings, the CJI explained that, under the MoU, two law clerks from Bhutan will be appointed to the Supreme Court for a three-month period.
He added that the clerks will receive the same honorarium as Indian law clerks and that their travel expenses will be covered by the Supreme Court. Introducing the clerks to a full courtroom, the CJI described them as “young and bright” and said they would be posted to different courts during their tenure.
Previously the CJI said,
“We have entered into an MOU with the Supreme Court of Bhutan and on the basis of which there will be two law clerks who will be paid on the basis of our honorarium and will be there for period of three months, we will be taking care of their travelling, both will be working in different courts, both are very bright,”
He noted that the initiative is intended to bolster judicial cooperation and strengthen institutional links between the two countries.
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