The Supreme Court of India and the Supreme Court of Nepal on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at developing, promoting, and strengthening judicial cooperation between the two countries..The MoU was signed in the presence of the Chief Justice of Nepal, Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut and Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, among other judges of both Supreme Courts. Others present for the event included the Indian Minister for State in charge of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal; Attorney General for India R Venkataramani; Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta; the Chairman of the Bar Council of India, Manan Kumar Mishra; the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Kapil Sibal; and the President of the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association, Vipin Nair..The MoU is intended to foster a mutual exchange of information on legal and judicial developments while also promoting greater interaction between judges and judicial officers through exchange visits, training programmes, and academic collaborations.The agreement aims to further long-standing friendly relations between India and Nepal and deepen cooperation between their judicial systems.Speaking on the development, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna observed that the MoU does not merely mark a formal exchange but is a reaffirmation of a centuries-old bond, renewed with a spirit of collaboration, mutual respect, and shared purpose. "Regular and structured exchanges between the judiciary of Nepal and India will serve not just academic or ceremonial functions—they will build institutional comity for the future. They will also foster regional judicial integrity, and most importantly, deepen the commitment to justice and the rule of law across our nations," he said. .He went on to observe that India and Nepal are more than just neighbouring countries and that both share historical and civilizational ties that are reflected in their traditions as well as the institutions that underpin the democracies in both countries."Among these institutions, the judiciary holds a sacred place. It guards the Constitution, upholds the rule of law, and ensures justice for all. It is in this context that the evolving cooperation between our judicial institutions carries significance. Our legal systems, though separated by borders, have always been in dialogue with one another," he added. CJI Khanna also observed that Indian courts have often drawn inspiration from Nepalese judgments, including when the Supreme Court of India rendered its judgment on LGBTQ+ rights in the case of Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India."While decriminalising Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The Indian Court noted the Nepalese judgment with approval, particularly drawing inspiration from how it linked the rights of LGBTQ persons to their right to privacy. Similarly, our friends in Nepal have incorporated key Indian constitutional doctrines—including the celebrated doctrine of the Basic Structure—into their constitutional discourse. I am happy to note how some of the Indian constitutional principles have found a home in Nepal’s jurisprudence!" CJI Khanna said. He also expressed thanks to his counterparts in Nepal for their commitment to a partnership between India and Nepal. "I look forward to a future where our judges, legal scholars, and judicial officers engage more frequently— where they share ideas, best practices, and jurisprudential insights. Let this MoU be the beginning of this new chapter—one that allows our judicial institutions to Cross the Rubicon," he said.
