Kathmandu, April 12, 2006

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) today urged Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Paudel to defer hearings on cases until the seven-party alliance general strike ends since the lawyers and their clients are unable to attend in the court due to the general strike which affected public transport services. The SCBA also urged the Chief Justice not to assign cases to the judges’ benches during the period, except habeas corpus petitions to ascertain the detention of people. “As you know that the seven-party alliance strike is continuing and the mass media and public transportation have also been seriously affected due to the movement,” the SCBA said. “Due to these reasons, common people can’t go from one place to another. This has affected the hearing of court cases,” Secretary of the SCBA, Indra Lohani wrote to the Chief Justice. Meanwhile, addressing a sit-in-protest organised by the Nepal Bar Association, senior lawyers called on the King to restore the rights of the people in order to resolve the political crisis in the country. The lawyers opposed the government suppression of the agitators participating in the peaceful movement for democracy. Former Law Minister Subhas Nembang called on the lawyers to participate in the movement to restore democracy and the rights of the people. “Unless there is active participation of everyone in this movement, it will not be a success,” he added. Former president of the NBA, Harihar Dahal condemned the government for its misuse of force to suppress the agitators.

Launch of neuro-surgery service at BPKIHS a boon for locals

Dharan, April 12, 2006

Neuro-surgery facility, which began at the local BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) two months ago, is proving a boon to locals and even those from afar. Earlier, people had to spend huge amounts of money to go to India or other countries for neurosurgery. Thanks to BPKIHS having initiated the service, people now don’t have to pay through the nose. Buddha Rai, 29, of Itahari who sustained a head injury in a road mishap, was planning to go Siliguri, India, for treatment. When he learnt about this service in Dharan, he rushed here. Radhika Adhikari of Inaruwa, Sunsari was worried because of the condition of her son. His head was abnormally big since his birth. Impoverished Radhika had been unable to manage the money to take him to India for treatment. After learning of the BPKIHS facility, she admitted her son here last week. The number of patients going to India for neurosurgical treatment has dropped after the initiation of neuro-surgery in Dharan, the BPKIHS claimed. Dr Ameet Agrawal said: “Patients with head injuries don’t need to go to India for treatment now.