First find where women are backward, says CJ

Pokhara, Nov. 24 (RSS): Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya has said that when it comes to gender equality, we must try to identify in which areas such as education, health, poverty, etc women are backward and then resolve the problems accordingly.

Mr Upadhyaya made this remark while inaugurating the ninth national seminar for women legal practitioners jointly organized here today by the Nepal Bar Association legal aid project Kathmandu and the Appellate Court Bar Association Pokhara.

The theme of the seminar is "justice and women's expectations".

Stating that judges should take occasional criticism directed at them as an opportunity for reform, the Chief Justice observed that the activities of women themselves sometimes stand in the way of building an egalitarian society.

Noting that the present constitution has made provisions for ensuring women's interests, their empowerment and the ending of discrimination in any form, he made it clear that the courts always function in keeping with the treaties and conventions which Nepal has signed.

Speaking of the need to make the existing laws pertaining to women trafficking more relevent to the times, Mr. Upadhyaya said that if senior legal practitioners involve in their work women who have just joined the bar, it will have a positive impact on such beginners. So the bar association should take initiative in this connection.

Central president of Nepal Bar Association Harihar Dahal said though a national conference of legal practitioners is held every three years, it was only from 2049 bs that a national seminar of this kind with the focus on women legal practitioners has been held.

Former speaker and senior advocate Damannath Dhungana observed that judicial, semi-judicial and other legal bodies should ensure justice, or else democracy will become weak.

Senior advocate Sarbagya Ratna Tuladhar expressed the view that the constitution is good and we all should mould ourselves accordingly.

Another senior advocate, Sindhunath Pyakurel, noted that gender equality is not possible unless there is economic, social and cultural equality in society.

Various other speakers including chief judge of the appellate court Mrs Sharada Shrestha, bar association central president Damannath Sharma and secretary Agni Kharel also spoke at the function chaired by president of the Appellate Court Bar Association Pokhara Mukunda Sharma Paudel.

More than 75 women legal practitioners are taking part in the two-day national seminar.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Upadhyaya took part in an interaction among legal practitioners here today.

Responding to questions raised by legal practitioners on the occasion, Mr Upadhyaya said that justice should be dispensed with utmost impartiality and honesty.

It will not be proper to let differences, if any, between bar and bench, spill out onto the streets, he added.

President of the Appellate Court Bar Association Mukunda Sharma Paudel dwelt on the problems facing legal practitioners.

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