Rayamajhi Commission gets wide mandate

Five day after the formation of the Judicial Commission to investigate the suppression of the pro-democracy movement, the government set terms of reference (ToR) for the commission.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Tuesday gave the ToR to the commission to investigate, recommend, advice or suggest the government to take actions or punishment against anyone responsible for the killings and suppression of the agitators during the pro-democracy activities, involved in abuse of power, misappropriation of state funds since the February 1 royal takeover of last year.

The commission headed by the former Justice of the Supreme Court, Krishna Jung Rayamajhi, is to submit its report within two months after probing into the cases of loss of life and property.
As per the terms of references provided to the five-member commission on Tuesday, the probe body is to find the guilty and suggest necessary legal action against them on the basis of its findings.

According to a member of the commission, Harihar Birahi, the government has given a two-month time frame to investigate the issues of rights violation, damage of lives and property and misuse of the state power and treasury.

The high-level Rayamajhi commission is starting work from Wednesday.

The commission office has been set up initially at Harihar Bhawan, the same building used by the unconstitutional Royal Commission for Corruption Control. The Home Ministry has been designated as the contact ministry for the commission. Commission members on Monday sought a clear commitment from the government before starting their work.

Other members of the five-member commission are lawyers Ram Prasad Shrestha and Ram Kumar Shrestha and general secretary of Nepal Medical Association Dr Kiran Shrestha.