NBA urges CJ not to hear cases during agitation

Kathmandu, April 13- The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on wednesday urged Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Paudel to defer hearings on cases until the seven-party alliance general strike ends since the lawyers and their clients are unable to attend in the court due to the general strike which affected public transport services.

The SCBA also urged the Chief Justice not to assign cases to the judges’ benches during the period, except habeas corpus petitions to ascertain the detention of people.

“As you know that the seven-party alliance strike is continuing and the mass media and public transportation have also been seriously affected due to the movement,” the SCBA said. “Due to these reasons, common people can’t go from one place to another. This has affected the hearing of court cases,” Secretary of the SCBA, Indra Lohani wrote to the Chief Justice.

Meanwhile, addressing a sit-in-protest organised by the Nepal Bar Association, senior lawyers called on the King to restore the rights of the people in order to resolve the political crisis in the country.

The lawyers opposed the government suppression of the agitators participating in the peaceful movement for democracy. Former Law Minister Subhas Nembang called on the lawyers to participate in the movement to restore democracy and the rights of the people. “Unless there is active participation of everyone in this movement, it will not be a success,” he added.

Former president of the NBA, Harihar Dahal condemned the government for its misuse of force to suppress the agitators. He also accused the government of unconstitutionally suppressing the rights of the people by imposing curfew.

Vice-president Sher Bahadur KC, senior advocate Krishna Prasad Bhandari, advocate Chandeshwor Shrestha, SCBA president Dhruba Nath Pant, Appellate Court Bar Association President Ishwori Bhattarai, Kathmandu District Bar Association President Yogendra Bahadur Adhikary and Lalitpur Bhaktapur Bar Association President Shyam Narayan Dhungana warned the government against suppressing the rights of the people.

Same as The Tanahun-Kathmandu Lawyers' Forum on Wednesday condemned the arrest and beating up of lawyers, journalists, human rights activists and political activists participating in pro-democracy programmes.

"This inhuman behaviour of the government is regrettable," a joint press release issued by the Forum chairman Upendra Keshari Neupane and secretary Yadunath Khanal said. The statement also expressed admiration for all participants in the people's movement.

"There will be no rule of law in the country unless the supremacy of the Constitution is acknowledged and democracy restored. Hence, everyone should actively participate in the movement," the statement said. The Forum has also asked for the immediate release of all political detainees.