• ‘Questioning of NHRC against the principle of checks and balances’

Kathmandu, April 7

Tarai Human Rights Defenders Alliance has said Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli overstepped his jurisdiction by questioning the activities of the National Human Rights Commission.

“Needless to mention, NHRC is a constitutional body and not a part of the Cabinet,” THRDA said in a statement issued here today.

PM Oli had summoned National Human Rights Commission Chair Anup Raj Sharma and other members on April 3, 2016 and sought clarification regarding Mohana Ansari’s statement during the UN Universal Periodic Review session of Nepal in Geneva in March.

PM has overstepped his jurisdiction by questioning and seeking clarification from the national human rights body, the alliance said. It further said the constitution has guaranteed NHRC the autonomy and independence to oversee human rights issues in the country and to draw the attention of the government through recommendations.

“Such interference by the government in the activities of the constitutional human rights body is against the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances,” said the alliance.

The alliance has also drawn the attention of all stakeholders to the issue and urged the government not to interfere in the activities of autonomous constitutional bodies such as NHRC.