More power for district‚ appellate courts
Added At: 2011-04-16 12:05 AM
Last Updated At: 2011-04-16 12:06 AM
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: In a bid to ensure easy access to justice, the Parliament has amended some Acts related to judicial administration, entrusting the habeas corpus writ jurisdiction
to district courts and leaving entire writ jurisdiction to appellate courts.
The amendments of the Acts published in the Nepal Gazette come into effect today.
The amended Section 16(1) of the Civil Rights Act states: “Any arrested person or detainee can file a habeas corpus writ in district or appellate court oneself or through any other person.” Earlier, the jurisdiction had been exercised by the SC and appellate courts.
The House had acted on the report of jurisdiction review commission headed by Acting CJ Khil Raj Regmi. He had recommended the government to expand the jurisdiction of lower courts to ensure easy access to justice for people against illegal detention by local authorities, including CDO and district police chief.
In a recent interview with THT, Chief Justice-designate Regmi had said he would focus on devolving the apex court authority to ensure easy access to justice.
“This new move would ease work load of the apex court,” Hemanta Rawal, assistant spokesperson, SC, told THT
As per the amendment in the Judicial Administration Act, 1991, the appellate courts have been empowered as the final arbitrator on petty cases – imprisonment up to three years, fine up to Rs 25,000, and cases related to decision on principal amount of Rs 50,000.
“Now the government must focus on how to empower the government attorneys,” said Attorney General Dr Yuba Raj Sangroula.
Groups to press for pro-women statute
Added At: 2011-04-15 11:40 PM
Last Updated At: 2011-04-16 11:40 PM
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: About seven groups including 35 women rights NGOs are organising protest programmes to pressurise Constituent Assembly to draft a women-friendly constitution.
They plan to organise two-hour sit-in before CA demanding full-fledged rights for women from April 16 to May 30. They are also organising 12-hour sit-in from May 15 to May 28 before CA under the slogan ‘Let’s go to Kathmandu from Baisakh 1 to pressurise in drafting constitution on time’.
Dr Renu Rajbhandari, chairperson of Women Rehabilitation Centre, said CA members are not serious about welfare of the country and are fighting for political power.
She accused that the CA members are not serious about forming Truth and Reconciliation Commission and commission on disappeared people for justice.
In the absence of such commissions, human rights violators are moving freely in the society with impunity. She further accused the CA of ignoring state restructuring and economical progress of the country. Dr Rajbhandari added that the government and Maoist are not serious towards army integration and blamed the political parties of vested interests.
“The country is unable to address the problem of conflict-affected women and there is no representation of women in army integration committees,” added the chairperson.
Addressing a press conference, she added that they would continue their protest programme until the country drafts the new constitution.
Rita Thapa, coordinator of Women’s Alliance for Peace, Power, Democracy and Constituent Assembly, said the government is unable to ensure 33 per cent representation of women although government expressed its commitment.
She added that they are organising the programme to protect country against violence.
The programme is dedicated for social justice, equality, peace and proportional representation of women in every sector, added Thapa.
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