DHARAMSHALA: Ngawang Chodak, former secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture, has been appointed new Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission of the Tibetan exile government, known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration.
The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile yesterday approved the appointment of Ngawang who joined the Tibetan administrative services in 1975 at the age of 20. Ngawang Choedak was born in the family of Lho Dokhar Choetri Tengpa in 1955.
Ngawang formerly served the Tibetan administration as secretary for Religion and Culture, secretary of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission and director of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, among various other posts.
Ngawang secured 21 votes against his 16 for his contender Kargyu Dhondup, the auditor general of the Central Tibetan Administration, in a voting held in the Tibetan parliament.
A selection committee comprising of the Chief Justice Commissioner, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Parliament in exile and the Tibetan prime minister (Sikyong) nominated Ngawang Choedak and Kagyu Dhondup.
“I have worked for 38 years in Tibetan government and did my best in helping public. I am glad and honored to be appointed as a new Justice Commissioner,’ said Ngawang. “With changes in Tibetan government in exile, the charter of Tibet and articles of Tibetan Justice Commission have also changed, therefore I will first do my research and study, and will then do my best in carrying out my responsibilities as a Justice Commissioner.”
The Chief Justice Commissioner and the two Justice Commissioners are appointed by the Tibetan Parliament in exile through a voting out of nominated candidates submitted by a selection committee, which is constituted by a committee of Chief Justice Commissioner, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Parliament and Sikyong.
