Kathmandu, August 19:

Chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subas Chandra Nembang today stressed on the need to draft a new constitution in two years.

“We have to also address democratic process during the period,” Nembang said, while

talking at a programme organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association.

The programme was organised to felicitate the lawyers, who turned Constituent Assembly members, including Nembang, Agni Kharel, Sapana Pradhan Malla, Radheshyam Adhikari, Pushpa Bhusal, Khim Lal Devkota and Eak Raj Bhandari.

Nembang called on the CA members to draft the new constitution respecting the dignity of the bar members.

“We must ensure the participation of the people from various walks of life and concentrate on democratic republican system while writing the statute,” Nembang said.

On the occasion, NBA vice-president Hari Uprety urged the lawyer-turned-CA members not to involve in legal practice during their tenure in the CA.

The new constitution should include provision on making a fresh appointment of judges, safeguard people’s rights and maintain rule of law.

CA member Adhikari said confusion still loomed over the right of lawyer-turned-CA members to continue practice during their tenure as CA members.

Maoist CA member Khim Lal Devkota called on all to learn “democratic practice” from the CPN-Maoist, as the other parties were not promoting the culture of democracy.

The CPN-Maoist would put the democratic practice it has committed into practice, Devkota added.

Bhandari, also a Maoist CA member, warned that they would not welcome corruption in the judiciary in the name of judicial independence.

“We do not want any corrupt judges and courts,” Bhandari added.

President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Indra Kharel said the new statute, to be drafted by the Constituent Assembly, should ensure the rule of law, independence of judiciary and human rights.