Supreme Court Appoints Two Bhutanese Professionals As Law Clerks Under CJI Surya Kant
Bhutanese professionals join Supreme Court clerkship programme.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday welcomed two young legal professionals from Bhutan who joined the Supreme Court as law clerks under an initiative aimed at strengthening judicial cooperation between India and Bhutan. The move is part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Supreme Court of India and the apex court of Bhutan to facilitate the exchange of young legal professionals and promote greater institutional engagement.
Speaking about the initiative, CJI Surya Kant said the Supreme Court had taken the step as part of its commitment towards enhancing judicial cooperation with Bhutan. Welcoming the two professionals, he said, “In terms of our commitment and judicial cooperation with Bhutan, we have entered into an MoU. Two young persons have joined today. Both of them are welcome as law clerks.”
The exchange programme allows law clerks from Bhutan to work with judges of the Supreme Court of India for a fixed period, providing them with exposure to the functioning of India's highest judicial institution. Under the arrangement, the two Bhutanese law clerks will serve at the Supreme Court for three months and gain experience in legal research, judicial processes and court administration.
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The Chief Justice of India had earlier stated that the Bhutanese law clerks would receive the same honorarium provided to Indian law clerks during their tenure. The Supreme Court will also bear their travel expenses as part of the programme. He added that both professionals would work with different benches of the court and described them as bright young legal minds.
The initiative is part of broader efforts by both countries to deepen cooperation between their judicial institutions. India and Bhutan share close diplomatic and cultural ties, and the exchange of legal professionals is expected to provide opportunities for knowledge-sharing and understanding of judicial practices followed in both countries.
Law clerk programmes play an important role in supporting judicial work by assisting judges with legal research, case analysis and preparation of judgments. Exposure to different legal systems allows young professionals to develop a wider understanding of constitutional principles, court procedures and comparative legal practices. The Supreme Court's collaboration with Bhutan's apex court reflects a growing emphasis on international judicial exchanges and institutional partnerships.
Through such initiatives, courts across countries seek to strengthen professional relationships, share experiences and improve legal education and research opportunities for the next generation of legal professionals. The arrival of the two Bhutanese law clerks marks a new step in India-Bhutan judicial engagement. While the programme is limited in duration, officials hope that such exchanges will contribute to stronger professional ties and encourage continued cooperation between the two neighbouring countries' judicial institutions.
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