Kathmandu, November 3
Nepali Congress leader Nain Singh Mahar has said that any form of interference in the independence of the judiciary and the credibility of key state institutions is unacceptable.
In a statement posted on Facebook, he said recent media reports suggesting that key state institutions, including the judiciary, had become embroiled in controversy due to special arrangements had raised serious questions.
Mahar said the Nepali Congress believes in the rule of law and constitutional governance, and recalled that an independent judiciary is a cornerstone of democracy.
He said attempts to discredit the entire judiciary to serve the interests of an individual or a group would weaken the state.
“If there is an attempt to discredit the entire judiciary to serve the interests of an individual or a particular tendency, it will weaken national strength and only encourage disorder and conspiracy,” Mahar said.
However, he stressed that serious questions raised within the judiciary should not be ignored in the name of judicial independence. He called for an impartial investigation into the issues that have come to light and legal action against those found guilty.
Mahar also said that a strong government alone was not enough to build a strong state. He argued that permanent state institutions must remain independent, capable and accountable in a political system where governments change.
According to him, a nation’s strength depends on the capacity of its national institutions, economic progress and the empowerment of its citizens. He said political stability, institutional capacity, economic prosperity and public trust were interdependent.
