KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has issued show cause notices to government authorities regarding their stance over changing terminology of forced sex (jabarjasti karani) to rape (balatkar).

A single bench of Chief Justice Anup Raj Sharma issued the notices to the authorities-the Prime Minister's Office and the Cabinet, the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare, the Office of the Attorney and the Nepal Police. The bench has asked the authorities to submit their written explanations within 15 days.

The bench was responding to a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate Jyoti Paudel Lamsal citing the gang rape on Police Constable Suntali Dhami. Lamsal had filed the petition demanding an extension on time availed to file first information report. As per existing legal provision, FIR should be filed within 35 days.

The petitioner also sought an amendment in existing law in relation to crime against women, prohibition on out of court settlement and bringing the officials who neglects investigation over such crimes to books.

The advocate also sought an order for an independent probe body to investigate crime against women. The petitioner also demanded that women police investigated the cases in which women were the culprit. Further, provision of forensic investigation at the district hospitals has also been sought for.