Kathmandu, July 27, 2005

The legal advisor to the Nepali Congress (Democratic), Shree Hari Aryal, today said the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) decision to jail former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and others should be challenged politically. Asked whether the party would move the Supreme Court, Aryal said they would wait and watch. “We’ll see how things develop after the completion of the Chief Justice’s term,” he told an interaction at the Reporters’ Club today. Senior advocate Krishna Prasad Bhandari said Deuba’s and Singh’s refusal to give statement before the RCCC proved their involvement in corruption. “If they move SC, it means they have given a legal status to the RCCC,” he argued. Member of civil society, Dr Sunder Mani Dixit, suggested for strengthening the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). “Had the CIAA dealt with the MDWP case, it would have been acceptable to everyone,” he said. “RCCC’s action will only help corrupt leaders cleanse their image since the parties have been labelling RCCC’s action as politically prejudiced,” he said, raising concerns of a “carry over”effect of corruption in the next phase of political development. “Since the Mallik Commission report was not put into effect after restoration of democracy, there was a carry over of corruption of the Panchayat era,” he said. CPN-UML leader Pradeep Gyawali said the seven-party alliance would continue to fight against RCCC.

1,000 temporary teachers to lose jobs

Over 1,000 temporary teachers will be displaced after the government implements its recent decision to relieve resource persons of their jobs. Teachers’ unions have condemned the government decision, as the resource persons have been effective in meeting the ‘Education for All’ goal. Speaking at a talk programme organised by the Education Journalists’ Group here today, leaders of various teachers’ unions urged the government to adjust them in other posts. Keshav Bhattarai, president of the Teachers’ Union, said prevalent educational structure should be made stronger for bringing the desired effect. The government had decided to recruit 50 per cent of the displaced teachers. However, it is yet to be executed, he said. Laba Prasad Tripathi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education and Sports, said the decision to relieve the resource persons was taken to decentralise the government’s services. The District Education Offices would themselves hire the resource persons that will help to increase the quality of education. “This will make the District Education Office accountable for maintaining the quality,” said Sovit Ram Bista of the Department of Education.