Wikipedia

Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (Nepal)

The Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs is the head of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of the Government of Nepal.[1][2] One of the senior-most officers in the Federal Cabinet, the minister has the responsibility to render opinions on, and to formulate and examine draft of, Bills, Ordinances, Rules and Formation Order, to render necessary opinions as required by the Government of Nepal on national and international legal disputes, and to perform acts relating to unification and codification of laws, research, review, reform of Nepal law, international law, the judicial system and the administration of justice.[3][4]

Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
कानून, न्याय तथा संसदीय मामिला मन्त्री
Emblem of Nepal
Flag of Nepal
Incumbent
Sobita Gautam
since 27 March 2026
Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
StyleHis Excellency
Member ofCouncil of Ministers
Reports toPrime Minister of Nepal
SeatSingha Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal
AppointerPresident of Nepal on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Nepal
Term lengthNo fixed term

The current minister is Sobita Gautam, who took office on 27 March 2026.[5][6]

Ministers of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (1953 to 2018)

edit

Ministers of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs

edit

Some individuals were known as the Minister of Law, Minister of Law and Justice, Minister of State for Law and Justice or the Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

  Denotes an Prime Minister
SM Minister of State
† Died in office
§ Resigned
® Reappointed
Name Assumed office Left office
Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs
Kaji Manik Lal Rajbhandari 14 August 1952 15 June 1953
Suryanath Das Yadav[7] 15 June 1953 18 February 1954
Bhadrakali Mishra[7] 18 February 1954 11 April 1955
Ananda Shamsher[7] 14 April 1955 27 January 1956
Aniruddha Prasad Singh[7] 27 January 1956 5 February 1957
Aruna Shumsher J.B. Rana 5 February 1957 26 July 1957
Damar Bahadur Singh[7] 26 July 1957 15 May 1958
Ranadhir Subba[7] 15 May 1958 27 May 1959
Surya Prasad Upadhyaya[8] 27 May 1959 30 June 1959
Minister of Law
Surya Prasad Upadhyaya 30 June 1959 15 December 1960
Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
Anirudha Prasad Singh[7][9] 27 December 1960 2 July 1962
Minister of Law and Justice
Anirudha Prasad Singh 3 July 1962 2 April 1963
Surya Bahadur Thapa[7] 2 April 1963 16 June 1965
Badanand Jha 16 June 1965 11 April 1966
Bhuwan Lai Pradham[10] 12 April 1966 10 August 1966
Nagendra Prasad Rijal 10 August 1966 29 May 1967
Surendra Bahadur Basnyat[11] 29 May 1967 25 September 1968
Basudev Prasad Dhungana[12][13][14] 25 September 1968[SM] 6 April 1969
7 April 1969 12 April 1970
Narendra Kumar Pradhan 13 April 1970 13 April 1971
Shambhu Prasad Gewali[15][16] 14 April 1971 15 April 1972
Rabindra Nath Sharma[17] 16 April 1972 15 July 1973
Lal Bahadur Khadayat 16 July 1973 28 March 1974
Hom Bahadur Shrestha[18] 29 March 1974 14 April 1975
Bhoj Raj Ghimire 14 April 1975 12 June 1975
Pitambar Dhoj Khati 13 June 1975[SM] 1 December 1975
Jog Meher Shrestha 2 December 1975 2 September 1976
Rabindra Nath Sharma 3 September 1976 16 May 1977
Jog Meher Shrestha 17 May 1977 11 September 1977
Hom Bahadur Shrestha 12 September 1977 26 November 1978
Shri Bhadra Sharma 27 November 1978[SM] 9 December 1978
Damador S.J.B. Rana 10 December 1978 13 April 1979
Krishna Prasad Pant 14 April 1979[SM] 31 May 1979
Dambar Bahadur Basnet 1 June 1979[SM] 14 January 1980
Marich Man Singh[19] 15 January 1980 31 May 1980
Nain Bahadar Swanr[20] 1 June 1980 15 June 1981
Bishnu Maden[21] 16 June 1981[SM] 9 October 1982
Bakhan Singh Gurung[22] 10 October 1982 1 July 1983
13 July 1983 8 February 1984[†]
Padma Bahadur Khatri 8 February 1984 2 April 1984
Bishnu Maden 3 April 1984[SM] 16 September 1984
Radhye Shyam Kamaro[23] 17 September 1984[SM] 20 March 1986
Rudra Prasad Giri 21 March 1986 15 June 1986
Hari Narayan Rajauriya[24][25][26] 16 June 1986 8 March 1988
Badri Prasad Mandal[27][28] 9 March 1988[SM] 13 October 1988
31 October 1988 31 March 1990
Jit Singh Khadka 1 April 1990[SM] 5 April 1990
Nain Bahadur Swanr 6 April 1990 18 April 1990
Nilamber Acharya[29] 19 April 1990 28 May 1991
Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
Taranath Ranabhat[30][31] 29 May1991 29 December 1991
Maheshwar Prasad Singh[32][33][34] 30 December 1991 29 November 1994
Subash Chandra Nemwang[35] 30 November 1994[SM] 28 December 1994
29 December 1994 29 August 1995§
30 August 1995[®] 11 September 1995
Kamal Thapa 12 september 1995 21 September 1995
Minister of Law and Justice
Bhim Bahadur Tamang[36] 22 September 1995 10 March 1997
Rameshwar Raya Yadav 12 March 1997 24 March 1997
Prem Bahadur Singh 25 March 1997 26 July 1997
30 June 1997 21 September 1997
Bharat Mohan Adhikari 22 September 1997 6 October 1997
Surya Bahadur Thapa 7 October 1997 2 December 1997
Siddhi Raj Ojha[37] 3 December 1997 12 April 1998
21 April 1998 25 August 1998
Sita Nandan Raya 26 August 1998 5 December 1998
Bharat Mohan Adhikari 25 December 1998 27 may 1999
Taranath Ranabhat[38][39][40] 31 May 1999 21 June 1999
Omkar Prasad Shrestha 22 June 1999 29 June 1999
Tarinee Datt Chataut 30 June 1999 22 February 2000
Prakash Man Singh 10 March 2000 21 March 2000
Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
Mahantha Thakur[41] 22 March 2000 25 July 2001
Sher Bahadur Deuba 26 July 2001 17 October 2001
Narendra Bikram Nembang 18 October 2001 4 October 2002
Dharma Bahadur Thapa 11 October 2002 10 April 2003
Lokendra Bahadur Chand 11 April 2003 4 June 2003
Surya Bahadur Thapa 5 June 2003 3 August 2003
Hari Bahadur Basnet 4 August 2003 2 June 2004
Sher Bahadur Deuba 3 June 2004 4 July 2004
Tek Bahadur Chokhyal 5 July 2004 1 February 2005
Dharma Bahapur Thapa[42] 2 February 2005 13 February 2005
Tulsi Giri 14 February 2005 13 July 2005
Niranjan Thapa 14 July 2005 23 April 2006
Narendra Bikram Nembang[43][44] 22 May 2006 1 April 2007
1 April 2007 18 August 2008
Minister of Law, Justice and Constitution Assembly
Dev Gurung[45] 22 August 2008 22 May 2009
Madhav Kumar Nepal 23 May 2009 17 June 2009
Minister of Law and Justice
Madhav Kumar Nepal 17 June 2009 2 July 2009
Prem Bahadur Singh[46] 3 July 2009 5 February 2011
Jhala Nath Khanal 6 February 2011 9 March 2011
Krishna Bahadur Mahara[47] 10 March 2011 3 May 2011
Prabhu Sah 4 May 2011 29 August 2011
Hridayesh Tripathi 4 September 2011 14 September 2011
Brijesh Kumar Gupta 15 September 2011 4 May 2012
Minister of Law, Justice, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs
Krishna Prasad Sitaula 18 May 2012 29 May 2012
Baburam Bhattarai 30 May 2012 13 March 2013
Hari Prasad Neupane 14 March 2013 11 February 2014
Narahari Acharya[48] 25 February 2014 12 October 2015[citation needed]

List of former ministers

edit
  Nepali Congress
  Nepal Communist Party
  CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist)
  CPN (Maoist Centre)
  CPN (Unified Socialist)
  Samajbadi Party Nepal
  Rastriya Prajatantra Party
# Name Took of office Prime Minister Minister's Party
1 Sher Bahadur Tamang
[49][50]		 16 March 2018 24 July 2018 130 KP Sharma Oli CPN (UML)
NCP
2 Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal
[51][52]		 3 August 2018 20 November 2019 474
3 Upendra Yadav
[53][54]		 21 November 2019 24 December 2019 33 SPN
4 Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal
[55][56]		 10 January 2020 17 February 2020 38 NCP
5 Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe
[57][58]		 17 February 2020 25 December 2020 312
6 Lilanath Shrestha
[59][60]		 25 December 2020 4 June 2021 161 CPN (UML)
7 Gyanendra Bahadur Karki
[61][62]		 13 July 2021 8 October 2021 87 Sher Bahadur Deuba Nepali Congress
8 Dilendra Prasad Badu[63][64]
 8 October 2021 7 April 2022 181
9 Gobinda Bandi
[65][66]		 7 April 2022 26 December 2022 263
10 Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan
[67][68]		 17 January 2023 25 February 2023 39 Pushpa Kamal Dahal RPP
11 Purna Bahadur Khadka
[69][70]		 19 April 2023 2 May 2023 13 Nepali Congress
12 Dhanraj Gurung
[71][72]		 3 May 2023 4 March 2024 305
13 Padam Giri
[73][74]		 4 March 2024 3 July 2024 859 CPN (UML)
– Pushpa Kamal Dahal
[75][76]		 4 July 2024 15 July 2024 12 CPN (MC)
14 Ajay Chaurasiya
[77][78]		 15 July 2024 12 September 2025 424 K. P. Sharma Oli Nepali Congress
– Sushila Karki
[79][80]		 12 September 2025 15 September 2025 3 Sushila Karki Independent
15 Om Prakash Aryal
[81][82]		 15 September 2025 22 September 2025 10
16 Anil Kumar Sinha
[83][84]		 22 September 2025 27 March 2026 186
17 Sobita Gautam
[5][6]		 27 March 2026 Incumbent 106 Balen Shah Rastriya Swatantra Party

References

edit
  1. ↑ "Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs". 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  2. ↑ "कानून, न्याय तथा संसदीय मामिला मन्त्रालय" (in Nepali). Government of Nepal. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  3. ↑ "Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (Nepal) | Devex". www.devex.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  4. ↑ "Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs". Nepal Government Portal. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  5. 1 2 "Sobita Gautam Appointed Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in Balen Shah's Cabinet". english.ratopati.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  6. 1 2 "Balen Shah forms 15-member cabinet - OnlineKhabar English News". 2026-03-27. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Joshi, Bhuwan Lal; Rose, Leo E. (1966). Democratic Innovations in Nepal: A Case Study of Political Acculturation. University of California Press.
  8. ↑ Pan-asia Newspaper Alliance, Hongkong (1960). The Asia Who's Who 3rd Edition.
  9. ↑ Far Eastern Economic Review Interactive Edition. Review Publishing Company Limited. 1962.
  10. ↑ The Nepalese Perspective. Gorkhapatra Corporation. 1966.
  11. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1967July-Dec". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  12. ↑ Regmi Research Project. Regmi Research Project. 1968.
  13. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1970 no.1-4". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  14. ↑ The Washington Almanac of International Trade & Business. Almanac Pub., Incorporated. 1995. ISBN 9780886222017.
  15. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1972Feb-June". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  16. ↑ Rimal, Nirmal (1992). Who's Who-Nepal, 1992. National Research Associates.
  17. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1973Jan-June". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  18. ↑ Nepal Recorder. Nepal Press Digest (Pvt.) Limited. 1978.
  19. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. Jan-Apr 1980". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  20. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. Jan-Feb 1981". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  21. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1982Jan-June". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  22. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. Aug-Dec 1983". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  23. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1984:Oct.-Dec." HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  24. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. Jan-Aug 1987". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  25. ↑ Human Rights Violations in Nepal. Human Rights Watch. 1989. ISBN 9780929692319.
  26. ↑ Asian Recorder. K. K. Thomas at Recorder Press. 1988.
  27. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1989 no.1-6". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  28. ↑ FOPHUR & Pro-democracy Movement. Forum for Protection of Human Rights. 1990.
  29. ↑ Mahat, Ram Sharan (2005-01-01). In Defence of Democracy: Dynamics and Fault Lines of Nepal's Political Economy. Adroit Publishers. ISBN 9788187392675.
  30. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1991July-Dec". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  31. ↑ Clements, John (1990). Clements' Encyclopedia of World Governments. Political Research, Incorporated.
  32. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. Mar.-Oct. 1992". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  33. ↑ C, Laksman Bahadur K. (1993-01-01). Recent Nepal: An Analysis of Recent Democratic Upsurge and Its Aftermath. Nirala Publications. ISBN 9788185693248.
  34. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1994 no.1,3-4". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  35. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1995Jan-Apr 1995". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  36. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1996Sep-Dec 1996". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  37. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1998Sep-Dec 1998". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  38. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. July-Dec. 1999". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  39. ↑ Copley, Gregory R.; Ltd, International Media Corporation (1994). Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook. Copley & Associates. ISBN 9781892998064.
  40. ↑ Clements, John (1992). Clements' Encyclopedia of World Governments. Political Research, Incorporated.
  41. ↑ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. Jan. -Apr. 2001". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  42. ↑ Seiderman, Ian (June 2004). Yearbook of the International Commission of Jurists: 2004. Intersentia nv. ISBN 9789050953832.
  43. ↑ Turner, Barry (2008). The Statesman's Yearbook 2009: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World. Springer. ISBN 9781349740277.
  44. ↑ "Minister addresses UN assembly". The Himalayan Times. 2006-10-03. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  45. ↑ "Law minister warns SC". The Himalayan Times. 2009-05-16. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  46. ↑ Turner, Barry (2010). The Statesman's Yearbook 2011: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World. Springer. ISBN 9781349586356.
  47. ↑ Staff, Palgrave Macmillan (2011). The Statesman's Yearbook 2012: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World. Springer. ISBN 9781349590513.
  48. ↑ "Meet the new cabinet of ministers". Nepali Times. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  49. ↑ "PM Oli appoints 15 ministers". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  50. ↑ "Law Minister Tamang calls it quits after controversial remarks". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  51. ↑ "Oli reshuffles Cabinet; Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal is new Law Minister". The Himalayan News. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  52. ↑ "Dhakal appointed Law Minister". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  53. ↑ "Yadav takes charge of new ministry". The Himalayan Times. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  54. ↑ "Samajbadi Party pulls out of government, Upendra Yadav resigns". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  55. ↑ Sureis (2020-01-11). "Minister Dhakal, Baskota get responsibility of two more ministries". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  56. ↑ Republica. "Dhakal, Baskota to take charge of Ministry of Law, Ministry of Urban Development also". My Republica. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  57. ↑ Thapa, Richa (2020-02-17). "Newly appointed Law Minister Shivamaya Tumbahangphe takes oath of office". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  58. ↑ "Former deputy speaker Tumbahamphe appointed as Law Minister". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  59. ↑ ONLINE, THT (2021-06-04). "All but four ministers replaced in Oli-cabinet, newly appointed ministers sworn-in". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  60. ↑ "In a big blow to Oli, Supreme Court annuls appointments of 20 ministers". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  61. ↑ Republica. "Karki assumes office as Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs". My Republica. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  62. ↑ "Minister Karki assumes office". Koshi Online. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  63. ↑ diwakar (2021-10-08). "Sher Bahadur Deuba cabinet gets full shape after 3 months. Here's the full list - OnlineKhabar English News". Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  64. ↑ "PM Deuba expands his cabinet of ministers". People's Review. 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  65. ↑ Republica. "Newly-appointed Minister for Law Gobinda Bandi takes oath of office and secrecy". My Republica. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  66. ↑ diwakar (2022-04-07). "Cabinet reshuffle: Govinda Bandi is the new law minister as Dilendra Badu moves to industry - OnlineKhabar English News". Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  67. ↑ Republica. "Ministers appointed on Tuesday take oath". My Republica. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  68. ↑ Samiti, Rastriya Samachar (2023-01-17). "Newly appointed DPM, ministers sworn in". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  69. ↑ Republica. "DPM Khadka takes charge of law ministry". My Republica. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  70. ↑ "DPM Khadka to look after Ministry of Law as well". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  71. ↑ "Newly-elected Law Minister Gurung assumes office". english.ratopati.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  72. ↑ Samiti, Rastriya Samachar (2023-05-04). "Three newly appointed ministers take oath". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  73. ↑ "Padam Giri, Hit Bahadur Tamang, DP Aryal sworn in as ministers". Setopati. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  74. ↑ "Padam Giri as Law Minister from UML, Damodar Bhandari in industry". English.MakaluKhabar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  75. ↑ "Prime Minister assigned additional portfolios". Khabarhub. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  76. ↑ "Prime Minister gets additional portfolios". My Republica. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  77. ↑ "Prime Minister Oli forms 22-member Cabinet". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  78. ↑ "These are the 21 new ministers of the Oli-led government". Khabarhub. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  79. ↑ Setopati, Setopati. "Sushila Karki sworn in as prime minister". Setopati. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  80. ↑ "Nepal appoints Sushila Karki as first female executive head". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  81. ↑ Setopati, सेतोपाटी संवाददाता. "ओमप्रकाश अर्यालले गृह र कानुन मन्त्रालय सम्हाल्ने". Setopati. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  82. ↑ "गृह र कानुनमन्त्रीमा अधिवक्ता ओमप्रकाश अर्याल". Ekantipur (in Nepali). Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  83. ↑ "Former Supreme Court Justice Anil Kumar Sinha to become Law Minister". Khabarhub. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  84. ↑ Online, T. H. T. (2025-09-22). "Four new ministers sworn in, expanding PM Karki's cabinet to eight". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Minister_of_Law,_Justice_and_Parliamentary_Affairs_(Nepal)&oldid=1353589982"