Nepal Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma visits India to strengthen judicial ties
Synopsis
Nepal's Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma is in New Delhi for a five-day visit hosted by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant — the latest in a rapid series of apex-court exchanges that have produced a formal MoU, back-to-back bilateral dialogues, and a deepening institutional relationship between two countries whose judicial ties were once largely ceremonial.
Key Takeaways
Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma of Nepal departed for New Delhi on 23 July on a five-day official visit .
The visit is at the invitation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and includes a scheduled visit to the Supreme Court of India .
The delegation includes Sharma's spouse Uma Sharma and Joint Registrar Amit Upreti ; Sharma is due back in Nepal on 27 July .
In April 2025 , the Supreme Courts of Nepal and India signed a formal MoU on judicial cooperation during a previous visit by then Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut .
High-level judicial exchanges between the two countries have accelerated since at least May 2024 , when then CJI D.Y.
Chandrachud made a historic visit to Kathmandu.
Nepal's Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma departed Kathmandu on Thursday, 23 July on a five-day official visit to India, at the invitation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, according to a press release issued by the Supreme Court of Nepal. Sharma flew to New Delhi aboard an Air India flight and is scheduled to visit the Supreme Court of India during his stay, with his return to Nepal confirmed for 27 July.
Who Is Travelling with the Chief Justice
The visiting delegation comprises Chief Justice Sharma's spouse, Uma Sharma, and Joint Registrar Amit Upreti. The Supreme Court of Nepal did not disclose further details about specific bilateral meetings or the agenda for the visit beyond the planned Supreme Court engagement.
Purpose of the Visit
The visit is aimed at reinforcing judicial cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. This is part of a pattern of high-level judicial exchanges that have become a regular feature of India-Nepal bilateral relations in recent years. Officials have not announced any new agreements or joint programmes in connection with this trip.
A Deepening Judicial Partnership
The current visit builds on a series of engagements that have progressively formalised ties between the two supreme courts. In November 2024, Nepal's then Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut travelled to New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Justice Surya Kant. In September 2025, then Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai visited Kathmandu at the invitation of Nepal's Supreme Court to participate in the Nepal-India Judicial Dialogue, where he delivered the keynote address on recent jurisprudence and justice sector reform. The dialogue brought together sitting judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, former chief justices of Nepal, and human rights and climate change advocates.
In April 2025, Chief Justice Raut completed a separate five-day official visit to India, during which the two apex courts signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop, promote, and strengthen judicial cooperation. The MoU was signed in the presence of Raut and then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna. The Supreme Court of India described it as being 'inspired by the cordial and friendly relations existing between the two countries and their people.'
Earlier, in May 2024, then Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud paid a historic three-day official visit to Nepal at the invitation of Nepal's then Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, further cementing the trajectory of institutional engagement.
Significance of the Exchange
The regularity of these visits — spanning chief justice-level travel, keynote dialogues, and a formal MoU — signals that judicial diplomacy has become a structured pillar of the broader India-Nepal bilateral relationship. The current visit by Chief Justice Sharma follows within months of the MoU signing, suggesting both sides are moving from framework-building to sustained engagement. What specific outcomes emerge from this trip are expected to become clearer after Sharma's return on 27 July.
Point of View
In roughly 14 months, matured into a structured judicial partnership — complete with a signed MoU, a formal bilateral dialogue, and now a follow-up visit within the same year. That pace is unusual in diplomatic terms and suggests institutional momentum rather than routine protocol. The unanswered question is whether this deepening judicial engagement will translate into operational cooperation — on extradition procedures, cross-border legal assistance, or climate and human rights jurisprudence — or remain a framework that looks robust on paper but light on binding outcomes. The absence of any disclosed agenda for Chief Justice Sharma's current visit makes it difficult to assess which direction this is heading.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Nepal's Chief Justice visiting India?
Nepal's Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma is on a five-day official visit to New Delhi at the invitation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, aimed at strengthening judicial cooperation between the two countries. A visit to the Supreme Court of India is scheduled during his stay.
When did Nepal's Chief Justice arrive in India and when will he return?
Chief Justice Sharma departed Kathmandu on Thursday, 23 July, and is scheduled to return to Nepal on 27 July. He travelled aboard an Air India flight to New Delhi.
What is the MoU signed between the Supreme Courts of India and Nepal?
In April 2025, the Supreme Courts of India and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop, promote, and strengthen judicial cooperation between the two countries. It was signed in the presence of then Nepali Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut and then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna.
What is the history of judicial exchanges between India and Nepal?
High-level judicial visits have become a regular feature since at least May 2024, when then CJI D.Y. Chandrachud made a historic visit to Kathmandu. Subsequent exchanges include Chief Justice Raut attending CJI Surya Kant's swearing-in in November 2024, CJI Gavai's visit to Kathmandu for the Nepal-India Judicial Dialogue in September 2025, and Raut's five-day visit to India in April 2025 during which the MoU was signed.
Who accompanied Nepal's Chief Justice on this visit to India?
Chief Justice Sharma was accompanied by his spouse Uma Sharma and Joint Registrar Amit Upreti. The Supreme Court of Nepal did not disclose details of any additional bilateral meetings planned during the trip.
