NOVEMBER 14, 2008 In response to a writ petition registered by Freedom Forum on amendments in laws related to the King, the Apex Court in Nepal on November 13, Thursday issued order to the government to ensure update all prevailing legal provisions with the changed context in the country.
The joint bench of justices, Anup Raj Sharma, Kalyan Shrestha and Rajendra Prasad Koirala directed to scrap the laws enshrined in relation to the King and to ensure timely amendment in other legal provisions in complacent with the Interim Constitution of Nepal.
Advocate Rishee Ram Ghimire on behalf of Freedom Forum registered the writ petition in the Supreme Court stating that provisions related to the monarch have not been amended even after the king was given a status of citizen following the establishment of Federal Democratic Republic in the country.
There are altogether 600 laws, including Acts and Regulations prevailing in Nepal. Out of them, around 300 laws are to be amended in accordance with the constitution. Most of the prevailing laws have the term “Shree Panch” which is needed to be annulled in line with the current system of governance.
The special provisions on King enshrined in Act related to Crime against the State and Punishment-2046 BS, Press and Publication Act-2048 BS and National Broadcasting Act-2052 BS have not yet changed even following the implementation of republic in Nepal.
The Acts had banned the publication which clearly breached the fundamental rights of people against the word and spirit of the Constitution.
It is the laudable achievement gained on the part of Freedom Forum in its legal fight in scrapping provisions contradictory to the Interim Constitution of Nepal.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022