Kathmandu, May 9

Acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshee said in his Law Day message today that if elected representatives ignored objectives of a just society while focusing on development and prosperity, political gains made in recent years would be in jeopardy.

“Development and prosperity cannot be an alternative to a just society. Political stability does not mean that the ideals of independent judiciary should be compromised,” he added.

Joshee said the judiciary was as important as any other organ of the state. His remarks come at a time when the left alliance government has stated that political stability, development and prosperity should be the focus of the government.

Joshee said the judiciary had important role to play to uphold people’s fundamental and legal rights and to ensure their access to justice. He added that it was the duty of constitutional bodies, stakeholders and the media to enable the judiciary to play its role effectively. “Therefore, on this special day, I urge all to respect independence of judiciary which is inviolable,” Joshee said in his Law Day message.

The acting CJ hoped that Law Day would inspire all stakeholders to implement the constitution to establish a just society in the country.

He said Nepalis’ earnest desire to see social transformation could ensure people’s economic, social, cultural, political and civil rights, along with their right to development and environment.

Joshee said legislative bodies of all tiers of the government had been devoting their efforts to fulfil people’s expectations.

Addressing a Law Day programme organised at the Supreme Court today, Joshee said nobody should harbour any prejudice against the judiciary. “Judicial independence and competence  cannot be guaranteed by merely a mention in the constitution,” he said. He added that one should not expect from the judiciary the nature of work that other organs of the state performed and the results such work produced.  He said judges should deliver justice in free and impartial manner.

He said the judiciary had gained some achievements but was facing many hurdles due to lack of resources. The acting CJ said at least one per cent of the budget should be allocated to the judiciary.

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara were also present on the occasion.