Kalpana Rawal
Kalpana Hasmukhrai Rawal (born 15 January 1946 in Bhuj) is a Kenyan lawyer and a Judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya. She was sworn in on June 3, 2013 as the Deputy Chief Justice of Kenya in a ceremony presided over by the President of Kenya and the Chief Justice.
Education and Early Career
Rawal holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, and Bachelors and Master of Laws in constitutional and administrative law. She received her LLB and LLM degrees in India, where she practised for three years under the tutelage of Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati who later became the 17th Chief Justice of India.[1] In 1975 she worked as a teacher of both administration and regular police officers at Lower Kabete. In the same year, she set up a private practice becoming the first woman lawyer to do so in Kenya. She run a general practice until 1999 when she was appointed a commissioner of assize, and judge of the High Court thereafter.[2]
Judicial career
Rawal has over 40 years experience in the Legal profession [3] and as at May 2011 had served as a judge for 11 years most of which was in Nairobi.[4]
Chief Justice Interviews
In May 2011, she was among 9 applicants interviewed for the position Chief Justice of Kenya by the Judicial Service Commission (Kenya). She however lost to current Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.[5]
2012 Kenya Police Helicopter Crash Inquiry
Justice Rawal led the judicial inquiry into the June 2012 Kenya Police helicopter crash that killed all six people on board including Minister George Saitoti and Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode.
Vetting Board Decision
In September 2012, the Kenya Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board in its fourth Determination declared Rawal fit for office. [1] It had earlier delayed its decision as she was among judges hearing a national interest case to determine on the date of the next Kenyan general elections.[6]
Deputy Chief Justice Nomination
Following the resignation of Nancy Barasa, Rawal applied for the vacant position of Deputy Chief Justice advertised by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on 9 November 2012. The JSC however re-advertised because it was dissatisfied by the number of applicants. The position subsequently attracted applications from 17 women and one man.[7] She was among 5 shortlisted for the position.[8]
On 22 February 2013, the JSC announced that after completing the interviews it had nominated Court of Appeal Judge Kalpana Rawal. She was successfully vetted by Parliament, and then appointed by the President as the Deputy Chief Justice.
Panama Papers
After the a huge leaked set of 11.5 million confidential documents that provide detailed information on more than 214,000 offshore companies listed by the Panamanian corporate service provider Mossack Fonsec. According to the documents date to September 7, 2007, Kalpana and her husband indicated that they set up an offshore holding company to move his business to the British Virgin Islands [9]
Personal life
Her father was a judge of the High Court of India while her grandfather served as a law minister in India.[2]
See also
References
- 1 2 http://www.jmvb.or.ke/images/documents/fourth_determinations.pdf
- 1 2 "Justice Rawal, Kenya's Deputy Chief Justice Designate". Citizen. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ↑ "Press Release on appointment of DCJ" (PDF). Judicial Service Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ↑ "Justice Rawal put to task over experience". Daily Nation. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ↑ "Lawyer Mutunga nominated for CJ post". Daily Nation. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ↑ http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/1458952/-/9ereni/-/index.html
- ↑ "17 women, one man apply for Baraza job". The Star. 12 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ↑ "Five shortlisted for deputy CJ’s job as top judges lose out". Business Daily. January 23, 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
- ↑ https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2781654-Rawal-Kalpanadoc4.html Certificate of Incumbency
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