Dharamshala: Former Tibetan Parliamentarian Dawa Phunkyi and former Kalon (Minister) Labrang Phagpa Tsering were officially sworn in as the new Justice Commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), during a ceremony held today at the Sikyong Auditorium.
The two were elected as the new Justice Commissioners on the twelfth day of the ninth session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, on 29 March 2025.
Chief Justice Commissioner Yeshi Wangmo administered the oath of office to the new appointees during the ceremony.
The event 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.
The ceremony concluded with a symbolic gesture from the distinguished dignitaries, who warmly draped the new Justice Commissioners in traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarves.
Brief bio of Dawa Phunkyi:
Dawa Phunkyi was born on 9 July 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 1 January 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.
On 29 March 2025, the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile elected him as the Tibetan Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission.
Brief Bio of Labrang Phagpa Tsering:
Phagpa Tsering was born on 7 November 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 6 April 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.
On the twelfth day of the ninth session of 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, he was elected as Tibetan Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission.
