Specialised courts indispensable: CJ

Kathmandu, Nov. 8 (RSS): An arrangement is going to be made for setting up separate benches for settling civil and criminal cases in district courts in view of the 2055-detailed report of the court management committee.

Separate benches will be set up next year in the districts of Kaski, Siraha and Kapilvastu on trial basis.

Homework is being made on legal aspects, development of human resources and physical infrastructures for setting up such benches in district courts as per an agreement between the Supreme Court and the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) for reform in the judiciary.

A one-day interaction programme was organised on the occasion of Constitution Day today jointly by the Supreme Court and the UNDP on setting up civil and criminal benches in pilot courts with the objective of dispensing justice without delay and without hassles.

Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay, who was inaugurating the programme, said setting up specialised courts is indispensable for providing social and economic justice as envisaged by the present Constitution and also spoke of the need to develop necessary manpower.

Upadhyay also drew the government’s attention to the need of framing laws for setting up mediation centers at local level to settle minor disputes.

Stating that there are now no cases filed in Achham and Manang districts and the trend of not registering the cases in other courts as well is intensifying as compared to previous years, the Chief Justice observed that if such courts are merged into other district courts, it will be easier for us to collect human and financial resources.

Supreme Court Justice Laxman Prasad Aryal, from the chair, spoke of the need to strengthen courts so that they can offer justice in a prompt way.

Various other speakers including registrar at the Supreme Court Sri Prasad Pandit, deputy resident representative of UNDP Alessandra Tisot and Chief Judge at the Baglung Appellate Court Raghav Lal Vaidya.

Judges Jagadish Sharma Paudel, Dr. Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada had presented working papers on various subjects on the occasion.

Sushil asks Maoists to cut demands

Bhadrapur, Nov. 8 (RSS): Nepali Congress General Secretary Sushil Koirala has said that the government-Maoist talks will be successful only if the Maoists give up, along with the republic, the demands for interim government and constituent assembly.

Talking briefly to journalists in Birtamod, Jhapa today, Koirala accused the Maoists of trying to break the talks by repeating the same thing against the opinion of all political parties and civil society.

Stating that the Maoists are indulged in disrupting the talks by raising the issues of sometimes pro-people government, sometimes constituent assembly and sometimes institutionalised development of republic, he stressed that they should come into the present Constitutional set-up in order to avoid being labelled as terrorists.

Koirala also spoke of the need for the government to put across its views clearly and effectively at a time when it enjoys the full support of all political parties in the country. Such a comfortable atmosphere will not remain as it is for ever, he added.

The Mechi Zonal gathering has added fresh energies to the NC workers and contributed to further consolidating the party, he noted.

In response to a question, the NC leader made it clear that the party has launched a liberation campaign across the country and this is not aimed against the present government.

Minister Shrestha opens office building

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov. 8: Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Gopal Man Shrestha recently inaugurated the office building Sagarmatha Community Agriculture and Forest Project and Visitors’ Information Center at Chaunrikharka Village Development Committee (VDC) Ward No. 5 of Solukhumbu district, according to a press release issued by WWF/Nepal Programme here today.

The project has been run jointly by the Department of Forest and WWF/Nepal Programme.

Inaugurating the building as per the Sherpa tradition, Minister Shrestha said that the natural resources management, sustainable development, awareness generation and capacity building programmes are very effective. He asked the consumer committees to safeguard the achievements made in the last 10 years in the forest sector and preserve and protect the community forests.

He also made an on-the-spot observation of various programmes conducted by the Sagarmatha Community Agriculture Forest Project from Lukla to Phakdin.

Chaired by Vice-Chairman of Chaunrikharka VDC Ang Dorjee Sherpa, project manager Bharat Pokharel shed light on the objective, programme and achievement of the project.

Similarly, Mrs. Karma Doma Shrpa, chairman of the forest consumers’ committee, Norbu Thile Sherpa, Dawa Phuti Sherpa, and Dawa Chhiri Sherpa drew the government’s attention towards announcing the buffer zone area of the Royal Sagarmatha National Park and include Chaunrikharka VDC in it.

On the occasion, Dr. Tirtha Man Maskey, Director General at the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), Deputy Director General of DNPWC Jamuna Krishna Tamrakar and director of WWF/Nepal Programme Ghanashyam Gurung were also present.

Meanwhile, Minister Shrestha inspected the Namche-based office of Royal Sagarmatha National Park yesterday and took information about various activities of the park from Nima Wangchu Sherpa, warden of the park, and leader of the park security committee.

He also instructed the employees of the national park to carry out necessary works for the preparation of the Silver Jubilee celebration of the park to be observed this year.

‘Role of trade unions vital’

Kathmandu, Nov. 8 (RSS): All the employees involved with the trade unions have a pivotal role to play in providing momentum to economic advancement of the country by expediting financial and banking activities.

Participants expressed this view at a symposium on "the role of trade unions for the improvement of financial sector" organised by Nepal Democratic Banking And Financial Employees’ Union (NDBFEU) here today.

Stating that it is matter of concern for the general people that the trade unions operate with the political motives, the participants stressed the need for the trade union leaders to forge an understanding with the management in policy matters to bring about positive changes in this sector.

Inaugurating the seminar, Minister of State for Finance Bharat Kumar Shaha said the government-owned banks and financial institutions which constitute 60 per cent share of the entire financial sector of the country are suffering a huge loss despite the fact that the general people have faith in its credible services.

The trade union could play a significant role in improving such ailing public enterprises, he added.

The reports prepared by foreign experts reveal that 25 per cent of the employees working in public enterprises have been involved in politics and neglecting to discharge their responsibility, he said and called on all to rise above the party politics and devote attention to enhance their professional competency.

He also expressed the hope that the loan recovery bill passed by both the Houses will be of great help in recovering their loans at a time when the financial sector is witnessing slackness.

Executive Chairman of Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) Ganesh Prasad Adhikari said that the new commercial banks that have come into operation with private investment are desirous of hiring experienced employees of the old banks.

He urged the the employees of the government-owned financial institutions to enhane their professional capabilities.

General manger of Nepal Bank Ltd. (NBL) Bhawanath Upadhyaya said that the trade unions should not forget its duty while raising voices for ensuring rights of the employees.

Chairman of Nepal Democratic Trade Union Federation Rajendra Bahadur Raut and its general secretary Khilanath Dahal argued that the government and the management have tried to keep the trade union under their control which has been counter productive for the whole financial sector.

Representative RBB Indra Kumar Shrestha and representative from NBL Basudevananda Baidya also expressed their views at the function chaired by convenor of the seminar Dhruba Chandra Gautam.

Governance, water supply discussed

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov.8: Canadian Cooperation Office (CCO), Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Canadian Consulate in Nepal, AMEC and Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) jointly organised presentation and discussion program on Governance and the Water Supply and Sanitation Sectors in the Kathmandu valley today.

In the program Minister of Physical Planning and Works Chiranjibi Wagle thanked FCM and welcomed the projects of AMEC. Moreover he said that the pilot project which AMEC is going to undertake in one municipality in the valley will be remarkable to demonstrate the feasibility and benefit of and integrated approach to water and sanitation management.

Similarly, the executive secretary of MuAN Surendra Pathak said to support municipalities, to strength the relationship between Canadian municipality and to alleviate urban poverty in Nepal the project will be very much beneficial.

During the program the data produced by the AMEC’s survey shows that present situation of the Kathmandu valley has a serious shortage of potable water supply as well as extreme sanitation and environmental problems. Current initiatives by His Majesty Government of Nepal to improve the water supply and sanitation are stalled due to legislative and contractual problems related to the implementation of financing from the Asian Development Bank and the world bank.

Kandel issues directives

Kathmandu, Nov. 8 (RSS): Minister of State for Home Devendra Raj Kandel has said that the armed police force will remain committed in its duty and contribute towards fulfilling the responsibility bestowed on it by the nation and meeting the aspirations of the Nepalese people.

Issuing directives to the armed police force officers and cadets present at the armed police force Inspector General’s Office in Maharajgunj today, Minister of State Kandel expressed the confidence that the armed police force will play an important role in controlling the criminal activities that have surfaced in the country while at the same time enhancing their training, skill and ability.

Home Secreary Keshav Raj Rajbhandari said that all the Nepalese will provide cooperation to the armed police force in its role of maintaning the peace and security of the country.

Inspector General of the Armed Police Force Krishna Mohan Shrestha expressed the view that the armed police force would always fulfill its role by serving the people and standing as their protector while remaining midway between the army and the police in its duty of guaranteeing law and order in the country.

Earlier the Minister of State for Home inspected the armed Police Headquarters and conditions at the office premises as well as acquired information on the work carried out by the office and its activities.