‘Judiciary should be strengthened in time of crisis’

Kathmandu: Stakeholders have stressed that the judiciary should be further strengthened during the time of crisis.

At an interaction programme organised on Sunday by the Constitutional and Judicial Journalists Forum on safeguarding the existence of the judiciary, the speakers stated that all should work together to counter the challenges faced by the judiciary after the Gen-Z protests of September 8 and 9.

It is said that more than 26,000 cases and historical documents of the Supreme Court (SC) were burnt in the arson that happened on September 9.

On the occasion, Attorney General Sabita Bhandari Baral said that the files of the Office of the Attorney General are safe. She said, “We can assist the SC by providing needed files.”

She was of the view that we should move ahead as per the spirit of the constitution, legal processes and democratic norms to answer the concerns surrounding the judiciary in the changed context.

The Attorney General also underscored the need for digitization of court documents.

Likewise, Chief Registrar of the SC, Bimal Poudel, vowed that the flame of justice will not be compromised despite the unimaginable loss happened in the judiciary. “The loss was unimaginable but not irreparable,” the Chief Registrar said.

Similarly, President of Nepal Bar Association Prof Dr Bijay Misha said that parliament will be restored if the elections was not held in time. He also promised that the Nepal Bar Association will fully help the judiciary to find the court files of the past.

On the occasion, journalist Shiva Gaunle said the judiciary should rise for the cause of democracy and justice and the media too should work to strengthen the justice system.

Also speaking at the event, RSS Chairman Dharmendra Jha said journalists should provide the documents to the court in the context that the judiciary has suffered damages. “Documents made available to the journalists during their court reporting could be given to the court to support the Supreme Court since it is the archive court too,” Jha added.