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| Kathmandu, Tuesday August 19, 2003 Bhadra 02, 2060. |
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Enforcement
of laws vital to end caste discrimination
POST REPORT
KATHMANDU, Aug 18 :
Politicians, constitutional experts and Dalit leaders underlined the need for an effective
enforcement of laws to prohibit any form of discrimination against the Dalit communities.
The view surfaced at a programme organised to mark the 41st Muluki Ain (Civil Code) Day
today.
"Making a new act
is not enough for social transformation unless it is implemented well", said Speaker
Tara Nath Ranabhat, at an interaction programme organised by the people’s committees.
He said," The implementation of social reforms should start from those who claim to
be on the top of social hierarchy."
Meanwhile, speaking at
a separate programme organised to mark the Movement of Lawyers), former chief justice
Bishow Nath Upadhyay said the law cannot be implemented by itself hence the state should
take initiative in this regard.
"The state should
develop such a mechanism that it can intervene when there is a case of
discrimination," he said.
Laxman Aryal, former
judge at the Supreme Court said though the national and the international law regard
untouchability as a criminal act, the case is still prevalent in our society. "The
immediate need thus is a change in the attitude of the people," he said.
Man Bahadur
Bishowkarma, former Member of Parliament said the law has not yet been implemented.
"First there was the question of equity then the question of protection of right and
now it is time for the implementation of the law," he said.
Earlier in the
programme, Kantipur Publications was honoured for its efforts towards the elimination of
untouchability. Similarly, Man Bahadur Bishowkarma was also felicitated for his role in
bringing the untouchability Elimination Part 10 (A) of the Muluki Ain in the notice of the
judiciary.
Bishowkarma had filed a
writ at the Supreme Court against Part 10(A) of the Muluki Ain, which was declared
‘Ultra Virus’ by the apex body.
Likewise, a book on the
verdict of the Dhading district court on the issue of untouchability was also made public
jointly by Upadhyay and Aryal. The book is written and edited by Ratna Bahadur Bagchand.
Similarly, in yet
another programme organised by LLM Students Forum, Krishna Jung Rayamajhi, former justice
of the Supreme Court, underlined the need for the implementation and translation of the
commitments in the international forums into practice.
"The content of
the Muluki Ain, should be rewritten in commoners’ language and should be made
available to all," remarked advocate Yagya Murti Banjare.
Other speakers were of
the opinion that amendment be introduced in the Muluki Ain to end discriminations against
the Dalits in the country.
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