Independent Lawyers' Forum Expresses Concern Over Nepal Bar Association President's Statement

Kathmandu. The Independent Lawyers' Forum has expressed serious concern and registered its objection to the statement made by the President of the Nepal Bar Association, Senior Advocate Dr. Bijay Prasad Mishra.

Issuing a press release, the Forum concluded that the statement made by President Mishra during the 33rd Women Lawyers' Conference held in Bhaktapur on Chaitra 7 is contrary to the spirit of the constitution and the mandate of the people. The Forum expressed dissatisfaction with President Mishra's statement at the conference, where he said, 'We will take a position against the two-thirds majority government.'

The press release issued by the Forum's Acting President, Advocate Harichandra Bhattarai, stated, 'It is clear that threatening statements such as 'We will take a position against the two-thirds majority government' violate the principle of sovereign power vested in the people as stipulated by the Constitution of Nepal, the core essence of constitutionalism, and the statute of the Nepal Bar Association, deeply hurting sovereign Nepali citizens and trampling upon the mandate of the people.'

The Forum cautioned the President of the Nepal Bar to remain within the limits of his status, the provisions regarding the appointment of the Chief Justice and Justices mentioned in Article 129 of the Constitution, and the statute of the Nepal Bar Association.

The President's attention was also drawn to the report prepared by the committee of former Supreme Court Justice Hari Krishna Karki and the report of the Judicial Restructuring Committee formed under the convenorship of Senior Advocate Purnaman Shakya, noting that these reports have already been endorsed by the National Conference of the Nepal Bar Association.