Ratna Bahadur Bista

Former Hon'ble Ratna Bahadur Bista
5th Chief Justice of Nepal
In office 26 July 1970 – 6 August 1976
Appointed by	Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
Preceded by	Bhagwati Prashad Singh
Succeeded by	Nayan Bahadur Khatri
Personal details
Born	Dadeldhura
Died	Kathmandu, Bir Hospital
Nationality	Nepal
Spouse	Ganga Devi Bista
Children	Dhirendra Bahadur Bista, Jitendra Bahadur Bista, Kishore Bista, Sarmista Devi Singh, Shanta Kathayat, Sarala Karki, Sashi Khadka, Anju Karki
Education	L.L.B
Alma mater	University of Allahabad
Awards	Order of Tri Shakti Patta, Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu

Ratna Bahadur Bista (1910–1990) was the fifth Chief Justice of Nepal. He was born in Dadeldhura to an aristocratic family that was given land grants in Sudurpashchim Province circa 1911 during a hunting trip by King George V of the United Kingdom and Chandra Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana, the Prime Minister of the Rana Dynasty.^[1] He went on to become the 5th Chief Justice of Nepal, in office from 26 July 1970 to 6 August 1976.^[2][3][4] He was appointed by the then-king of Nepal, Mahendra. He was responsible for the Summary Procedure Act 1971. The Committee that he established recommended for the establishment of High Courts in different regions which resulted in the creation of a four tiered judicial structure with one additional tier in the middle- "the Regional Courts."^[3]

He is the recipient of the Order of Tri Shakti Patta by King Birendra of Nepal on June 10, 1980^[5]

He had worked as a member of the National Election Commission formed by King Birendra on June 26, 1980. The Election Commission had held a referendum election in 2037 BS 1980 AD ^[6]

Bista was preceded by Bhagwati Prashad Singh and succeeded by Nayan Bahadur Khatri.^[2]

Personal life

He is a part of the Bista Family that originates in the far western region of Nepal. Many members and mostly his nephews have held public office in the government of Nepal.His Nephew Lok Pratap Bista was also appointed by King Mahendra of Nepal as the Minister of Forestry and Agriculture.^[7]

His nephew Puran Bahadur Bista also held public office as the 4th Nepalese Director General of Department of Customs.[8] His nephew Dr. Mahendra Bahadur Bista held the position of director general of the government's Department of Health (DOH) and the director of Nepal's Epidemiological and Disease Control Division position implementing modern maternity care and disease control in rural parts of the country.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] His eldest son Dhirendra Bahadur Bista was a judge in the district court while his second son Major Jitendra Bahadur Bista was a military pilot and major in the Nepal Army, known for his daredevil helicopter stunts and rescue missions all over Nepal. His nephew Dipendra Bahadur Bista was the ambassador of Nepal to the United Kingdom from 2003 to 2007.[18] Another nephew of the same namesake was Deputy Inspector General Dipendra Bahadur Bista who was the head of Mid Western Regional Police Office in Surkhet, Nepal.[19]

References

1. "King George V and King Prithvi of Nepal with a shot tiger, 1911 (c) | Online Collection | National Army Museum, London". collection.nam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
2. "सर्वोच्च अदालत नेपाल". www.supremecourt.gov.np. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
3. Mulmi, Shreekrishna. "Research and National Judicial Academy: A Short Note". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
4. Kharel, Deepak. "Ancient idols of gods under serious threat in Nepal". My Republica. Archived from the original on 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
5. http://rajpatra.dop.gov.np/welcome/download?ref=11237
6. http://rajpatra.dop.gov.np/welcome/download?ref=7653
7. "King Mahendra Ministry".
8. "Department of Customs, Nepal - Director Generals". www.customs.gov.np. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
9. "Poor maternity care poses threat to women". The New Humanitarian. 2006-08-03. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
10. "HEALTH-NEPAL: Deadly Malaria Returns To Himalayan Foothills | Inter Press Service". www.ipsnews.net. 22 September 1998. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
11. "HEALTH-NEPAL: Monsoon Rains Bring Illnesses | Inter Press Service". www.ipsnews.net. 26 August 2004. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
12. "Encephalitis kills over 200 in six weeks in Nepal - Nepal". ReliefWeb. 13 September 2005. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
13. "India gives Rs 116 million aid to Nepal". Hindustan Times. 2006-06-21. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
14. "People's Daily Online -- Nepali gov't supplies influenza drugs to hilly districts". en.people.cn. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
15. Seattle, Marler Clark 1012 First Avenue Fifth Floor; Phone: [phone], WA 98104-1008 (2005-08-08). "Food, Water-Borne Diseases Cause 3,000 Deaths in Nepal". Hepatitis Blog. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
16. "Funds set aside to control seasonal disease outbreak". The Himalayan Times. 2006-09-28. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
17. "Health Dept wakes up to bird flu threat". The Himalayan Times. 2006-05-04. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
18. "About Embassy". Embassy of Nepal - London, UK. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
19. "7 DIGs, 3 DSPs sent on deputation". The Himalayan Times. 2006-05-23. Retrieved 2020-05-11.