Failure to disseminate info on statute resulted in crisis, says CJ

BHAKTAPUR: Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha has said that the current problem surfaced due to failure to disseminate true information related to the Constitution to the people immediately after its promulgation.

Chief Justice Shrestha made this remark at a programme 'Role of Media in Enhancing Access to Justice' jointly organised by the Access to Justice Commission and Constitutional and Judicial Journalists Forum in Bhaktapur on Wednesday evening.

Though the Constitution has enshrined 31 fundamental rights to the people, the beneficiaries were not well informed about the provisions immediately after its promulgation, he said, suggesting the media to disseminate information to the constitutionally-guaranteed rights to the people.

Noting that the promulgation of Constitution was a remarkable achievement, he said the challenge now is to ensure its effective implementation.

Justice is under the reach of only 5 to 10 per cent people, he said, noting that the many significant cases could not come to the door of the court.

He stressed that judges, journalists and lawyers should move ahead together to increase access to justice.

"I would keep the court free from politics and would not allow politics within the court", CJ Shrestha asserted, adding, "There should be no politicisation in appointing justices. The tendency of keeping the court under political influence should be put to an end."

The delay in appointment of judges hampered the settlement of cases on time, he added.

The justice has multiple stakeholders, he said, adding that the time has come to form and mobilise volunteers' groups to villages to increase public trust on court and increase their access to justice.