Dharamshala — Yeshi Wangmo was sworn in as the new Chief Justice Commissioner, and former Tibetan Parliamentarian Dawa Phunkyi and former Kalon (Minister) Labrang Phagpa Tsering were sworn in as two other Justice Commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission (TSJC).
Yeshi Wangmo was sworn in as the new Chief Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission (TSJC) in the Parliament Hall, Gangkyi, Dharamshala, HP, India, on April 4, 2025. The oath of office was administered by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile in accordance with the Charter of Tibetans in Exile.
Yeshi Wangmo, the Secretary of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, was elected by members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile as the Chief Justice Commissioner on their the twelfth day of the ninth session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile on March 29, 2025. Yeshi Wangmo became the first woman to hold the office of Chief Justice Commissioner in the history of the TSJC.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at 10:30 am in the Parliament Hall, in the presence of key dignitaries, including Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, and members of the Standing Committee of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. The event commenced with the offering of Tibetan traditional scarves to the portrait of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, followed by the administration of the oath.
Yeshi Wangmo was born on January 15, 1970 in Chauntra, Himachal Pradesh. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from GCG College in Chandigarh. Yeshi Wangmo joined the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) on 18th September 1995 as an Under-Secretary in the Department of Security.
She was promoted to Deputy Secretary in the same department on 24th February 1999 and was subsequently transferred to the Department of Health on 8th February 2002. In June 2005, she was promoted to Joint Secretary at the Department of Health.
From August to December 2009, she served as Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, and later, on December 7, 2009, she took up the position of Joint Secretary at the Department of Information and International Relations. She was promoted to Additional Secretary on September 6, 2013.
On July 27, 2016, Yeshi Wangmo returned to the Department of Health as its Additional Secretary and served in this role for two years. On October 8, 2018, she was appointed as the first woman Secretary of the Department of Finance, a position she held until her recent appointment as Secretary of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission on July 1, 2021. Yeshi Wangmo has now been sworn in as the Chief Justice Commissioner of the TSJC.
Former MP Dawa Phunkyi and former Kalon Labrang Phagpa Tsering sworn in as the new Justice Commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission. Thet took oaths from the new Chief Justice Commissioner Yeshe Wangmo on April 7, 2025, at the Sikyong Auditorium, CTA, Gankyi, Dharamshala, HP, India.
Both of them were elected by members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile as two other Justice Commissioners of the TSJC on their the twelfth day of the ninth session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile in March 29, 2025.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, Kalon (Minister) Tharlam Dolma Changra (Department of Education), Kalon Dolma Gyari (Department of Security), Kalon Norzin Dolma (Department of Information and International Relations), Chief Election Commissioner Lobsang Yeshi, Public Service Commission member Tsultrim Dorjee, and standing committee members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. It was also attended by the Secretaries of various CTA departments and offices, alongside senior staff members.
Dawa Phunkyi was born on July 9, 1963 in Dharamshala, India. He served as the school captain at TCV School and was awarded the Best Student Award by the Department of Education, CTA. He pursued a Diploma in Health Management and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Health Administration from Christian Medical College, Vellore, and St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore, respectively.
On January 1, 1987, Dawa Phunkyi started his career as a Health Coordinator at Delek Hospital, followed by his role as Project Officer at the Department of Health, CTA. In 1994, he was appointed Secretary of the Delek Hospital, and in 2006, he was promoted to Chief Administrator of the hospital.
In addition to his professional work, he has made significant contributions to various NGOs, including serving as: President of the RTYC, General Secretary of the National Democratic Party of Tibet, Senior Vice-President of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society, Director of the Community Service Rotary Club, Dharamshala, and Vice President of the Utsang Cholkha Association.
He was elected to the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from the U-tsang province. Currently, he serves as a member of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and continues in his role as Chief Administrator of Tibetan Delek Hospital. He is also a board member of several governmental and non-governmental organisations and an advisor to the U-tsang Cholkha Association.
Phagpa Tsering was born on November 7, 1965 in a small town near Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery, located in Amdo (eastern Tibet). After completing his education at North-West Nationalities University, he came into exile in 1992. On April 6, 1993, he joined the Central Tibetan Administration as a probationary Under Secretary at the Department of Security and served as a researcher in the department’s research and analysis section, which examines situations inside Tibet.
In 1998, he was promoted to Deputy Secretary, and in July 2002, he was further promoted to Joint Secretary, continuing in the same portfolio. In 2010, he was promoted to Additional Secretary and served in this position at the Tibet Policy Institute, alongside his existing duties at the Department of Security.
In 2014, he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Security. During the tenure of the 15th Kashag of the CTA, he was appointed Kalon of the Department of Security.
