Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, July 18:

Half-a-dozen human rights activists, including the chairman of the Informal Sector Service Centre, Subodh Raj Pyakurel, filed a habeas corpus petition at the Supreme Court today, challenging the rearrest of Govinda Ghimire from the Kathmandu District Court premises on June 22. Security personnel had rearrested Ghimire, even though he was ordered to be released by the Supreme Court after serving a two-year jail term on the charge of being a supporter of the Maoists. They also filed a separate contempt of court petition against Home Minister Dan Bahadur Shahi, accusing him of defying the apex court’s order by arresting Ghimire. They have termed the rearrest a gross violation of human rights guaranteed under the Article 11, 12, 14 and 15 of the Constitution and the international human rights conventions, to which Nepal is a signatory. The rights activists also sought the apex court’s

order to the Home Ministry to produce Ghimire before the court.