Nima Dorji
Associate Dean for Academics
Assistant Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law, Bhutanese Constitutional Law, and Gross National Happiness and Law.
Biography
Nima Dorji is one of the founding faculty members of Bhutan’s first law school and a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria, Canada. Prior to joining JSW School of Law, he worked as a Legal Officer at Bhutan National Legal Institute (BNLI), Bhutan’s Judicial Academy, and he was one of the founding staff of the institute.
Nima received his Master of Laws from University of Canberra in Australia, Bachelor of Law and Arts from NALSAR University of Law in India, and Postgraduate Diploma in National Law (PGDNL) from Royal Institute of Management, Bhutan.
Nima’s research examines the intersection between law and happiness more generally and in particular the relationship between happiness and constitutionalism. Nima was a founding editorial member of Bhutan’s first law journal (Bhutan Law Review), and he is Editor-in-Chief of the recently launched Journal of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and Law published by JSW Law Publishing Series.
Areas of Interest
- Constitutional Law
- Gross National Happiness and Law
- Election Law
- Buddhism and Law
- Climate Change, Sustainability and Environmental Law
Publications
- “Happiness, Right to” in Christina Binder & et al. edns., Elgar Encyclopedia of Human Rights (Forthcoming, 2022)
- The Journal of Gross National Happiness and Law, (February 2021) Nima Dorji & et al. edns. Vol. 1 (Inaugural Journal of GNH & Law).
- “The Greening of the Constitution: Constitutionalisation of Environmental Protection for Happiness” (November 2020) 1 The Journal of Gross National Happiness and Law 209-243.
- “Bhutan: The Role of Constitutional Monarch in Public Health Crisis” in Victor V. Ramraj edns., Covid-19 in Asia (Co-authored with Sonam Tshering) (Oxford University Press, 2020).
- “Constitutional Value of Happiness” (2020) 12 Bhutan Law Review.
- “The Politics of Apoliticality: In the Conflict between Political Rights and Political Neutrality, Facelessness Wins” (2018) 10 Bhutan Law Review 54-66.
- “Have we undermined the law?” – Legal opinion piece on the corruption allegations between the government and the opposition party. Published by the National Newspaper Kuensel, 19 February 2018. Online version can be found at http://www.kuenselonline.com/have-we-undermined-the-law/.
- “The Constitution of Bhutan” in David Law & et al. edns., The Oxford Handbook of Constitutional Law in Asia (Co-authored with Michael Peil) (Oxford University Press) – Forthcoming.
- “Constitutionalisation of Democracy for Happiness in Bhutan” – A book chapter (Forthcoming).
Courses
- Comparative Constitutional Law.
- Bhutanese Constitutional Law.
- Gross National Happiness and Law.
- Research Seminar on Bhutanese Law and Legislation.
Education History
- PhD. (Currently pursuing), University of Victoria, Canada.
- LL.M. University of Canberra, Australia.
- PGDNL. Royal Institute of Management, Bhutan.
- BA.LLB (Hons.). NALSAR University of Law, India.