Cabinet recommends granting amnesty to Resham Chaudhary

Kathmandu, May 29: The government has recommended a presidential pardon for Resham Chaudhary, the jailed leader of the Nagarik Unmukti Party, on 16th Republic Day.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Sunday morning decided to recommend names of some prisoners, including of Chaudhary before President Ramchandra Paudel for pardon, according to Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma. 

Chaudhary is currently serving a life term after being convicted of masterminding the 2015 Tikapur massacre.

On May 16, the Supreme Court had upheld the decision of Dipayal High Court to sentence Chaudhary to life for the Tikapur massacre where seven security personnel, including SSP Laxman Neupane and a toddler, were killed. The Home Ministry had taken the process for pardon ahead even as the apex court has yet to issue the full text of the verdict on the case.

In December last year, the government even brought an ordinance to release Chaudhary and other inmates jailed in the course of political agitations, but later decided to drop the idea.

Seven police personnel, including a Senior Superintendent of Nepal Police, and a toddler were killed during violent protests in Tikapur on August 24, 2015, in the run-up to the promulgation of the constitution.

The Kailali District Court slapped a life sentence on Chaudhary identifying him as the main accused, and the verdict was later endorsed by the Dipayal High Court.

He surrendered before the Kailali district court in February 2018 and has beenserving a life sentence at the Dillibazar prison in the Capital as of now. The nation is celebrating Republic Day on May 29. There is a constitutional provision for remission of punishment by the President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.

Answering to queries of journalists after the Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Minister Sharma, who is also the government spokesperson, said that the government had made the pardon recommendation of Chaudhary remaining within the legal ambit and upon the recommendation provided to the government by some legal experts.

Article 276 provides that "the President may pardon, postpone, change or reduce the sentence imposed by any court, judicial or quasi-judicial body or administrative officer or body in accordance with the law". Chaudhary, who made a statement that he would go for a review against the Supreme Court's decision, had chosen the path of amnesty from prison through the path of pardoning according to Article 276 of the Constitution.

The Cabinet meeting also decided to appoint Anita Dhungana Shah of Lamjung as a member of the National Planning Commission under the women quota.

Maharjan appointed as consulting editor 

Similarly, the Cabinet meeting held on May 26 decided to appoint Upesh Maharjan of Kirtipur as consulting editor of Gorkhapatra Corporation (GC) for a maximum of two years term. Maharjan, who is also the working staff of the Corporation in gorkhapatraonline.com, has been appointed the consulting editor. 

Agendas of PM's visit to India to be set on Monday 

The preparations for Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s visit to India have reached the final stage and the meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday will finalise the agendas, according to Minister Sharma. 

In response to a journalist's question, Spokesperson Sharma said, "The number of visit delegates is yet to be confirmed but the delegation will be small. The ministries are preparing the agenda for the visit. It has not yet reached the final stage. Along with energy, there are also issues of border, which are being discussed, but no formal decision has been made yet, said Minister Sharma. 

Request to certify Citizenship Bill 

Similarly, the Cabinet meeting held on May 26 has decided to request President Ram Chandra Paudel to certify the National Citizenship Bill, which has been at the Office of President under review. The bill was passed by both the National Assembly and the House of Representatives.  

Finance Minister to visit Canada

Also, the government has approved the visit of Minister for Finance Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat to Vancouver of Canada to participate in the 7th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) from August 22-26. Further, the Cabinet gave an approval to use the national forest area for the upgrading of the Sindhulimadi-Bhumesthan-Chakmake-Udayapur Katari road section.

Similarly, the meeting decided to approve the use of the national forest area of Taplejung district for the construction of the transmission line of the Mid Tamor Hydropower Project and to remove the trees on that land. 

Minister Sharma also said that the meeting decided to use the national forest area of Sankhuwasabha district to build the physical infrastructure of Lankhuwakhola Small Hydropower Project and to remove the trees in that forest area.

Similarly, the meeting approved the visit of Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal to participate in BIMSTEC trade conference to be held in Calcutta, India from June 13 to 15, 2023, and nominate Durga Prasad Bhattarai, former foreign secretary and former ambassador/permanent representative to the United Nations, as part of the group of eminent persons for BIMSTEC future course of action, representing Nepal. 

It has also decided to give approval to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to nominate and send, and to give principle approval to draft a bill on safe use of chemical substances, regulation and risk management.