Writ against local judicial committee coordinators’ role

Kathmandu : A writ has been filed at the Supreme Court challenging the provision of the deputy mayors of municipalities and the vice-chairpersons of the rural municipalities performing the duties of a judge as the Chair of the local judicial committees.
The writ lodged by advocate Shilu Tiwari argues that the deputy mayors and the vice-chairpersons could not settle dispute which is the responsibility of the judges of the law courts. The writ names the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs among other bodies as defendants. The writ petitioner has demanded through the writ to seek alternative way out as the judicial committee coordinators lack the legal qualification and the capacity to act as judges as well as the knowledge about the principles of fair trial.
The writ contends that giving the people’s representatives of the judicial committee the responsibility of a judge merely on the basis of imparting few days’ legal training and orientation is very short-sighted and irresponsible way and it might put the property of the citizens at risk. It also seeks a mandamus staying the implementation of some arrangements made in the Local Government Operation Act 2074 and looking for alternative legal remedies.RSS