Legal experts ask to guarantee independent of Judiciary in interim constitution

Legal experts have asked the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee to guarantee the independence of judiciary in the interim statute, saying it is essential to strengthen democracy.

Speaking at a programme in the capital on Saturday organized by Nepal Bar Council to mark the 30th Bar Council day, Attorney General Yagya Murti Banjade, said, “Independence of the judiciary is a must in the interim constitution because the judiciary has always played a crucial role in protecting the rights of the people.”

He added the judiciary had played a positive role even during the king’s direct rule and always delivered verdicts protecting fundamental rights.

Senior advocate Basudev Dhungana and Sarbagyaratna Tuladhar asked for more progressive provisions to secure the independence of the judiciary than granted by 1990 constitution.

Supreme Court justice, Kedar Prasad Giri, stressed the need of good relations between the bench and bar so that no one can threaten judiciary’s independence.

He further said that there should not be any obstacle in providing justice even during the state of emergency and added that pessimism will prevail in people if that was not guaranteed.

Members of the panel, Shambhu Thapa and Agni Kharel, expressed dissatisfaction over the government and Maoist talks teams for not giving serious attention towards the role of the panel.

Thapa stated that the law practitioners should stand in favor of independence of Judiciary adding if any attempt to hurt the independency of the Judiciary was made, it will push the country towards crisis.

The bar council awarded Dr Shankar Kumar Shrestha’s book “Victim’s Jurisprudence” with the best law book award of this year.

A team led by former Supreme Court Justice Laxman Prasad Aryal is drafting an interim constitution to incorporate Maoists into the interim constitution and to hold the elections of the constituent assembly.