Kathmandu, August 31, 2005

A section of the Nepali Congress (NC) delegates today expressed concerns about the eventual fate of the nation in the event the party goes for a republican order. Since today was the first day of the closed session, a comprehensive cross sectional view may be clear only by tomorrow. While not many got to speak given the lack of time, since much of the time was dedicated to the political and other reports from the party office bearers including treasurer and general secretary, a dozen party delegates who got to speak were divided among themselves on the efficacy of the latest decision of the party concerning the future agenda. While some were of the view that the political agenda bordering on the republican order could be dangerous in the light of the consequences involved, others were not much concerned about the consequences as long as the agenda is safely implemented in due course. The nature of debate which marked the day had a section of the party workers worried and asking themselves as to what could happen to the nation and the polity just in the event the void left by the institution of monarch is occupied by the army. Yet another concern is what could happen to the nation and the democratic movement as a whole if the void left behind by the institution of monarchy is occupied by the Maoists in their wake. Compare this with yet another point of view with some declaring that the institution of monarchy was already out of step and thus out of mind.

SC orders EC to start work on electoral reform

The Supreme Court today issued a directive to the Election Commission (EC) and the government directing them to promulgate a law to make the country’s election system transparent by holding consultations with political parties. A division bench of Justices Min Bahadur Rayamajhi and Hari Jung Sijapati issued the directives responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a group of lawyers, including Mihir Kumar Thakur and Rama Pant, three years ago. “Do the necessary to promulgate law to make the election system transparent by holding consultations with political parties,” the bench ordered. It also said there is an urgent need to carry out necessary work to make the country’s electoral system transparent if free and fair elections are to be held. As per the order of the apex court, the EC will now be responsible to check a candidate’s educational qualifications, economic status and estimated election fund, personal record whether s/he has been involved in any criminal act and/or been punished. The lawyers had filed the PIL at the SC citing a Judicial Investigation on Property Commission recommendation for reform in the election system to help combat corruption.