KATHMANDU, MAY 11

A bill has been registered in the Parliament to give impunity to political perpetrators of criminal offence.

The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs registered a bill in the Parliament to withdraw cases against the leader involved in the Tikapur incident and absconding lawmaker Lakshmi Mahato Koiri.

Resham Chaudhary was accused of involvement in the Tikapur carnage, while CPN-UML lawmaker Lakshmi Mahato Koiri was accused of murdering Assistant Sub-Inspector Thaman Bishwakarma during the Madhes protest.

The government registered the 'Bill to amend some Nepal Acts' in the Parliament Secretariat a few days ago.

'The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs registered a bill to amend some existing Nepal's laws a few days ago. But due to technical problems on the website of the Parliament Secretariat, the bill was not placed on the website,' Spokesperson of the Parliament Secretariat Ek Ram Giri told THT.

He further said, 'Although I have not read it thoroughly, about ten laws and acts have been submitted for amendment through the bills made to amend some Nepal's laws.'

Section 116 'A' has been added to section 116 of the Civil Criminal Procedure Code, 2017. In that section, it is mentioned that if a case is filed with the government as plaintiff, showing the damage caused during political or peaceful movement, such a case can be withdrawn. It is also mentioned those cases can be withdrawn even if they are pending in a court.

'Regardless of what is written in Section 116, if any political party or group carries out violent activities in disagreement with the political system of the country, such political party or group shall be subject to the constitution and prevailing laws of Nepal to mainstream them to peaceful politics. If there is agreement between the government of Nepal and such a political party or group on withdrawal of cases, any case filed with the government of Nepal as plaintiff against the leaders and activists of such political party or group can be withdrawn. Even if it is under consideration in a court of any level, there will be no hindrance in withdrawing it,' states the registered bill section 116 (A).

If the bill is passed by the Parliament, the cases against Resham Chaudhary, who was found guilty in the Tikapur incident, and the case of UML MP Lakshmi Mahato Koiri, who was charged with the murder of Assistant Sub-Inspector Thaman Bishwakarma during the Madhes protest, and other cases can also be withdrawn.

It is argued that these bills were registered for that purpose.

If this bill is passed, it will open the way for people facing cases of political nature to get impunity from prosecution or punishment.

If this happens, those found guilty in the Tikapur incident, including Resham Chaudhary, and the absconding MP Lakshmi Mahato Koiri, among others, will get impunity.

In the Tikapur incident, Kailali District Court sentenced 11 people, including Resham Chaudhary to life imprisonment on 24 February 2019. After that, on 18 December 2020, Dipayal High Court gave a verdict of life imprisonment to eight people, including Chaudhary.

A version of this article appears in the print on May 12, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.