Kamal Kumar (died 21 November 2023) was a Fijian jurist who served as

Chief Justice of Fiji The chief justice is the Republic of Fiji's highest judiciary, judicial officer. The office and its responsibilities are set out in Chapter 5 of the 2013 Constitution of Fiji. The chief justice is appointed by the President of Fiji, president ...

from 2019 to 2023. Kumar was educated at the

Queensland University of Technology The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a public university, public research university located in the city of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. It has two major campuses, a modern city campus in Gardens Point, Brisbane, Gardens Point ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, graduating with a Bachelor of Law (LL.B.). He worked as a lawyer in Australia, and then in Fiji, before being appointed to the

High Court of Fiji The High Court of Fiji is one of three courts that was established by Chapter 9 of the 1997 Constitution of Fiji — the others being the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The Constitution empowered Parliament to create other courts; these ...

civil division in 2013. From September 2018, he served as the head of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, and he served as a president of Dakshina India Andhra Sangam Fiji of Lautoka Branch for two consecutive terms until 2012. He was appointed acting chief justice following the retirement of

Anthony Gates Anthony Harold Cumberland Thomas Gates was the chief justice of Fiji from 2008 to 2019. Gates is best known for his decision in ''Chandrika Prasad v. Att-Gen of Fiji'' 0002 FLR 89; ''Prasad v. Republic of Fiji & Another'' 0011 LRC 665; 001 ...

in April 2019. The position was made permanent and he was formally sworn in as chief justice on 6 August 2021. On 30 January 2023, Kumar was suspended by President

Wiliame Katonivere ''Ratu'' Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere, CF (; born 20 April 1964) is a Fijian chief and politician.He served as the President of Fiji from 2021 to 2024. He has been chief of Macuata Province since 2013, succeeding his older brother Aisea Katon ...

after allegations of misbehaviour. Salesi Temo was appointed to act in his place. He died on 21 November 2023.

References

20th-century births Year of birth missing 2023 deaths Fijian people of Indian descent Queensland University of Technology alumni 21st-century Fijian judges Chief justices of Fiji {{Fiji-politician-stub