Kathmandu, May 5
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has condemned the impeachment motion filed against Chief Justice of Nepal, Sushila Karki, claiming it suggested “a concerted attempt by the government to undermine the independence of the judiciary.”
“Chief Justice Sushila Karki has been instrumental in a number of high-profile and politically sensitive decisions, and therefore the attempt to remove her gives rise to serious concerns about the government’s commitment to transitional justice and the rule of law,” the official said in a statement today.
The statement further commented that the automatic suspension of the Chief Justice would bar her from dealing with a number of politically sensitive cases that she had announced the Supreme Court would consider in the near future.
“The failure to address impunity raises serious questions about Nepal’s commitment to its obligations under international human rights law and the motion to impeach Chief Justice Karki undermines Nepal’s commitment to strengthen democratic institutions and transitional justice,” Zeid added.
“I urge the Nepal authorities to respect the independence of the judiciary, to withdraw what appears to be a politically motivated impeachment motion and to commit to the processes of transitional justice and accountability that are so important if Nepal is to overcome the tragic legacy of its decade of conflict,” he concluded.
