CIAA must work hard -CJ

Kathmandu Nov. 24 Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel has said that the Special Court has been created as conducting hearings on cases related to corruption, a crime committed on the basis of post and prestige, would take time and hence result into a state of impunity.

Chief Justice Poudel was speaking at a discussion programme on˜The Special Court: Aspects of Reforms organised by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs .

Stating that corruption has emerged as a problem not only of Nepal but also of the whole world, he said Nepal has expressed solidarity in the international efforts to get rid of this crime.He added that the Special Court was established in line with the building of a public welfare state.Noting that hearing into cases of similar nature made dispensation of justice speedy and effective, the Chief Justice said that the Special Court was hearing cases related to state offence like corruption as well as cases related to petitions against the decisions of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

At the programme, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Niranjan Thapa said that the objectives set forth while drafting the Constitution and laws targeted towards the people have been fulfilled with the establishment of the Special Court, and that the Nepali people have got justice.

He said that the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, the Royal Commission for Corruption Control and the National Vigilance Centre are all bodies established with the purpose of controlling corruption in the country.

He added that judicial bodies like the Special Court established in Nepal are found in all the democratic countries.Minister Thapa said the government was committed to corruption control and expressed the determination of the government for implementing the recommendations and initiatives for finding out the ways of dispensation of justice on these matters prompt and speedy.

Attorney General Pawan Kumar Ojha said that the nature and procedures of a serious crime as corruption has changed, stressing the need for conducting thorough investigations and effective administration of justice on such matters.

Chief Commissioner of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority Surya Nath Upadhyaya said that whether to increase the number of bench or to establish branch courts for speedy dispensation of justice should be mulled.He stressed the need for giving emphasis on preventive measures rather than curative measures to get rid of corruption.

Chairman of the Special Court Govinda Prasad Parajuli said that the present Special Court was established 22 August 2002 and it faced physical hurdles in the initial period.He said that since it takes time for undergoing all the judicial processes like keeping the accused in judicial custody, extending the term of hearing the case and, the provision of six months granted for this purpose was not enough.

At the programme presided over by Supreme Court judge Kedar Prasad Giri, Secretary at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs