Dharamshala: Acting Chief Justice Commissioner Karma Damdul of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission has announced his retirement from service after having served in the Central Tibetan Administration in varied positions for almost 46 years.
The retiring acting Chief Justice Commissioner has previously served as the Justice Commissioner following his appointment during the sixth session of the 16th Tibetan Parliament on 19 September 2018. On 1 October 2018, he took an oath of office.
As per the Code of Judiciary’s Section 15 under Article 67 ‘Judicial code and code of judicial procedure of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission’, the acting CJC will be assumed by one of two Justice Commissioners who has higher years of service. Hence, Justice Commissioner Karma Damdul took additional charge as the Acting Chief Justice Commissioner since 15 November 2021. The total of his services rendered in TSJC as Acting Chief Justice Commissioner for a period of 4 years and 9 months.
Acting CJC Karma Damdul was born on 1 July 1958 in Kongpo, central-eastern Tibet. He studied at CST Darjeeling till 10th standard and went on to complete his remaining schooling at CST Mussoorie. After completing high school, he voluntarily joined Special Frontier Force (SFF) and served there for 8 years.
In 1977, under the direct jurisdiction of Kashag, he studied political governance for a year. Between 1983-1989, he served at the Primary Agricultural Credit Co-operative Society in Bylakuppe’s Dekyi Larsoe as an ad-hoc staff. On 1 July 1989, he was appointed as office secretary at Kollegal’s settlement office. In 1994, he was appointed as the office superintendent at the Primary Agricultural Credit Co-operative Society in Hunsur and thereafter was promoted to the post of Section Officer.
In 1998, under the coordination of the Department of Home, he went to Israel to study various joint projects of Tibetan Co-Operatives. On his return, he was appointed as the Secretary of the Co-operative Society at Dekyi Larsoe. In 1999, he was appointed as the Secretary of the Co-Opertative Society at Lugsam settlement.
Between 2001-2006, the acting CJC served as the settlement officer of Dekyi Larsoe. During this term, he was promoted to Deputy Secretary. In 2004, he was awarded for excellence in service. For two years between 2006-2008, he was temporarily appointed as the CEO of the Federation of Tibetan Co-operatives. From 2009 to 2015, he served as the settlement officer at various settlements including the TSO of Mainpat, the TSO of Gangtok and the TSO of Lugsam. In 2015, he was promoted to the position of Secretary and was appointed as the Chief Representative Officer of south zone settlements. In 2016, he was transferred to the Department of Religion and served there till his appointment as the Justice Commissioner in 2018. In 2021, as per the judicial procedure, he was appointed as the acting Chief Justice Commissioner and served the position till his retirement on 30th June 2023.