Tibetan Parliament Elects New Chief Justice Commissioner, Justice Commissioners, and Auditor General
DHARAMSALA, 29 March: In a historic first, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) elected Yeshi Wangmo as the new Chief Justice Commissioner(CJC) of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission (TSJC), making her the first woman to hold the post of the highest of the judicial organ of the Tibetan government-in-exile, officially known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
With the backing of more than 2/3 of the House- 31 votes- the TPiE elected Yeshi Wangmo, the incumbent Secretary of the TSJC, as the new CJC of the TSJC. Parliamentarian Dawa Phunkyi and former Security Kalon(Minister) Phagpa Tsering were also elected to serve as the new Justice Commissioners(JC) alongside her at the TSJC.
Mr Sonam Gyaltsen, a former Tibetan Parliamentarian and the incumbent senior History Professor of the College for Higher Tibetan Studies (Sarah), lost the election to Wangmo as he secured only 12 votes.
MP Dawa Phunkyi, with 25 votes, secured the post of the JC of the TSJC as he defeated MP Youdon Aukatsang and Lawyer Phurbu Dorjee, who received four and nine votes respectively.
To complete the TSJC as its other JC, former Security Kalon Phagpa Tsering defeated former MP Gyari Kalsang Tsewang with 31 votes against the latter’s 12.
While the nominees were shortlisted by three separate committees, whose members consisted of former Kalons and former CJC, the only candidate with a law background among the lot, Lawyer Phurbu Dorjee, was overlooked by the house.
Meanwhile, Tashi Topgyal, the incumbent Secretary of the CTA’s Office of the Auditor General who secured 32 votes in the house, was elected as the new Auditor General.
The TPiE is presently convening the 12th day of the 9th session of the 17th TPiE. The session, which sets and approves CTA’s budget for the financial year 2025-2026, will conclude on Monday.
