Kathmandu, April 21
The Supreme Court has ordered the constitutional anti-corruption body, Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, to stop carrying out sting operation to arrest government staffers receiving bribes.
The constitutional bench comprising Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana and justices Deepak Kumar Karki, Meera Khadka, Hari Krishna Karki, and Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada made the order in response to a writ petition filed by advocate Bishnu Prasad Ghimire.
The court issued the order as per article 133(1) of the constitution that says, “Any citizen of Nepal may file a petition in the Supreme Court to have any law or any part thereof declared void on the ground of inconsistency with this Constitution because it imposes an unreasonable restriction on the enjoyment of any fundamental right conferred by this constitution…”
The court says sting operation is against article 20(9) of the constitution that states, “Every person shall have the right to a fair trial by an independent, impartial and competent court or judicial body,” and sentiments of the Corruption Prevention Act, 2002.
Around 400 cases to be scrapped
Meanwhile, with the order, around 400 cases being tried at various courts just on the basis of sting operations will be discontinued.
