Biratnagar, January 11, 2006

As part of an anti-poll campaign, the Morang district chapter of the Nepal Students’ Union (NSU) has begun tearing pamphlets and posters put up by the Election Commission in different places of the Biratnagar submetropolis. “We will boycott all programmes announced by the EC. We will tear all pamphlets and posters put up by the EC,” said Kedar Karki, president of the Morang chapter of the NSU. The EC has put up informative posters with the objective of making the people aware of the upcoming municipal polls. The NSU has also formed a committee headed by Kedar Karki to make the campaign effective. Presidents of different campus units, representatives of the Free Students’ Union (FSU) and workers of district working committee are the members of the committee. A group of students and party workers tore hundreds of pamphlets and posters pasted between Hatkhola of Biratnagar and the Traffic chowk today, said Bhim Parajuli, the secretary of FSU, Mahendra Morang Campus. The group also warned the people not to take part in the polls, he said. Addressing a corner meeting at the Traffic chowk, Kedar Karki and Bhim Parajuli said the NSU is ready to organise programmes to disrupt the municipal polls. Meanwhile, the NSU has also warned the Nepali Congress leaders not to contest the polls.

Govt asked to provide security to judges

Kathmandu, January 11, 2006

A report prepared by a study panel has asked the government to provide security to all judges of the Supreme Court, District Courts and Appellate Courts. The Supreme Court had constituted the panel about six months ago. “There is an urgent need to provide at least a sub-inspector as personal security officer (PSO) to every judge for his security,” the panel headed by Judge Prem Sharma said. Representatives of the Ministries of Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Finance and General Administration had helped prepare the report. According to a panel member, Tek Narayan Kunwar, the panel recently submitted the report to the Supreme Court, asking the latter to lobby for security of judges. “We also recommended that a martial be appointed to maintain judicial discipline while court proceedings are underway,” Kunwar said. The panel asked the Supreme Court to approach the government in this regard. “The Supreme Court would forward the demand to the government through the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs,” Kunwar said. The panel also recommended the apex court to ask the government to appoint a registrar general. The registrar general will take charge of administrative works of the court, it said, recommending that two registrars be appointed to assist the registrar general.