Govt Asked to Provide Security to Judges

Kathmandu, Jan 12- A report prepared by a study panel has asked the government to provide security to all judges of the Supreme Court, District Courts and Appellate Courts . The Supreme Court had constituted the panel about six months ago.

"There is an urgent need to provide at least a sub-inspector as personal security officer (PSO) to every judge for his security," the panel headed by judge Prem Sharma said. Representatives of the Ministries of Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Finance and General Administration had helped prepare the report.

According to a panel member, Tek Narayan Kunwar, the panel recently submitted the report to the Surpeme Court, asking the latter to lobby for security of judges. "We also recommended that a martial be appointed to maintain judicial discipline while court proceedings are underway," Kunwar said.

The panel asked the Supreme Court to approach the government in this regard. "The Supreme Court would forward the demand to the government through the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs," Kunwar said.

The panel also recommended the apex court to ask the government to appoint a registrar general. The registrar general will take charge of administrative works of the court, it said, recommending that two registrars be appointed to assist the registrar general.

The panel also stressed the need to appoint a first-class officer of the judicial service as the personal secretary of the Chief Justice so as to assist the chief of the judiciary in every matter. Currently, the Chief Justice has a second-class officer as the personal secretary of the Chief Justice. ""At least one research officer should be appointed to work under every judge of the Supreme Court so that the judges can do their jobs properly," the report stated.