Former Supreme Court justice Prakash Osti passes away

Kathmandu / Dec 28: Prakash Osti, a former justice of the Supreme Court, passed away on Friday night following a cardiac arrest. He was admitted to the Thapathali-based Norvic Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead the same night, according to Supreme Court spokesperson Achyut Kuikel.

Osti, aged 71, had a long career as a government attorney and served in the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority before being appointed as a Supreme Court justice on September 7, 2008. He retired on April 12, 2014 as a temporary justice after his tenure was not extended.

During his time at the anti-graft commission, Osti prosecuted several high-profile corruption cases, earning a huge reputation in the society. In 2007, he played an important role as a member of the committee–formed to study anomalies in the court–advocating for a corruption-free judiciary, pointing out middlemen’s pervasive influence within and outside the courts.

After retiring from the Supreme Court, Osti served as a National Human Rights Commission member for six years. He remained active in legal research, advocacy, and writing until his demise.

The cremation has been scheduled for Sunday at Pashupati Aryaghat, awaiting the arrival of his son from the United States, Kuikel confirmed.