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Kathmandu Wednesday August 29, 2001 Bhadra 13, 2058.
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Fake lawsuits
Within two weeks, the radical land reform
programme announced by the Deuba-led government has taken a serious turn. The Central
Working Committee of Nepali Congress has also directed the government to probe into the
illegal wealth amassed after the restoration of multi-party system. The government has not
been able to table the bill in Parliament on land reform. Meanwhile, two opposition
parties — the Nepal Sadhbhawana Party and Rashtriya Prajatantra Party — continue
to disrupt the House proceedings, demanding that the probe be applied to property in
general. Both political parties have opposed vehemently the proposed land reform programme
since Prime Minister Deuba announced it. From ordinary farmers and bureaucrats to former
lawmakers and judges, people have begun filing lawsuits in district courts against their
own family members to save their land. This seems nothing but a failure on the part of the
government to take all political parties into its confidence. The reason is that the
government neither did any homework nor came up with a concrete plan before it announced
the proposed land reform programme.
Prime Minister Deuba, a week after he
announced the ceasefire with the Maoist rebels, embarked on the land reform programme,
which he said was long overdue. Unfortunately, Deuba did not even feel it necessary to
probe into the wealth of those who have accumulated it while holding key posts in
government offices. But what made Deuba introduce land reform suddenly, especially at a
time when the country’s economy is taking a downturn? Did he take the decision on
land reform to appease the Maoist rebels? But, what Deuba has pledged to do, whether it is
to please the Maoists or the poor, deserves praise. But the question is how honestly he
completes the task and, at the same time, takes account of illegal wealth.
Relatives of those who own land more than what
is legally permitted have begun registering fake cases to claim their shares in several
district courts, or to prevent any unwanted erosion of parental property. They include
prominent political leaders from all parties, judges, bureaucrats and local feudal fiats
who have amassed hundreds of acres of land. This has come to light only after Prime
Minister
Deuba lowered the ceiling on land holdings. This will indeed affect the proposed land
reform programme, despite the new ceiling on land holdings. This apart, the present legal
system does not have any provision that rejects a decision on such make-believe lawsuits.
The Deuba government cannot just plunge head-long into his ambitious programme, without
attending to other accompanying problems.
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