Kathmandu. Civil activists and human rights defenders have suggested that the parliamentary committee seek answers from the government, not from international human rights organizations, regarding the claim that political pressure is being exerted on Supreme Court judges. This suggestion comes after the House of Representatives’ Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee directed the government to seek clarification from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) following a joint statement issued by these organizations. Civil activists expressed their objection to the committee’s decision in a joint statement issued on Thursday. Signatories to the statement include Sushil Poudel, Charan Prasai, Subodhraj Poudel, Gopal Krishna Shiwakoti, Dinesh Tripathi, Raju Chapagain, Indu Tuladhar, Vijayraj Gautam, Shobhakar Budhathoki, Dr. Vidya Chapagain, Som Niroula, Bikash Basnet, Sushil Bicke, Gopi Parajuli, Kapil Aryal, Biswas Nepali, Bhagawati Adhikari, Vishnu Shripali, Monica Niroula, Rekha Shrestha, Balkumari Darmi, Bhakta Bishwakarma, Nitu Pokharel, Shyamkumari Saha, Sirjana Pun Magar, Lubhraj Neupane, Abhayraj Joshi, Dhan Bahadur Mijar, and Abhishek Adhikari.
The statement mentions that according to Article 97 of the Constitution of Nepal and Rule 173 of the House of Representatives Regulations, 2083, the primary role of parliamentary committees is to assist in the functioning of the federal parliament, monitor and evaluate the activities of the government and relevant state bodies, and ensure that the government is accountable and responsible to the parliament.
‘The basis for calling parliamentary committees ‘mini parliaments’ is to maintain continuous and effective parliamentary oversight over the executive,’ the statement reads. ‘Similarly, the mandate of the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee cannot be interpreted as having the authority to bring independent international human rights organizations, which question the government’s activities, under parliamentary control or accountability.’
