Prosecuting officials delegated: Pokharel

By Our Correspondent,Kavrepalanchowk, Aug. 29: Attorney General Dr. Dinmani Pokharel said that public prosecutor's offices and its employees were empowered and made more responsible lately. Inaugurating the new building of the public prosecutor's office in Kavrepalanchowk on Monday, he said that the authority of the higher bodies had been delegated to the district level.

Pokharel said that the jurisdiction to investigate cases related to cybercrime, previously limited to the Kathmandu District Court, had now been delegated to all districts. Stating that the public prosecutor's office and lawyers had the opportunity to practice new laws, he said that they should also be responsible for flawless prosecution and defend professionalism.

He said, "The jurisdiction of the cheque dishonor case in the Commercial Bench of the High Court has been extended to all district courts. This gives the public prosecutor an opportunity and a challenge to work accurately in new economic crimes." He said that the responsibility for reconciling civil cases, once held by the Attorney General's office, now rests with the public prosecution's office.

Furthermore, he said that responsibility of ensuring the customers' right to quality service had also been increased. He said that the implementation of new provisions from the Criminal Code had commenced.

Pokharel said, "The role of the public prosecutor in the criminal justice system is not only to prosecute cases, but also to keep the criminal justice system on track through coordination and cooperation with other agencies and to ensure the responsibility of protecting human rights as given by the constitution."

At the programme, Deputy Attorney General Bishwo Raj Koirala said that out of the 97 offices under the Attorney General's office, the construction of 80 offices had been completed till date. 

District Attorney Sambhu Kumar Basnet said that the foundation stone of the new building of the public prosecutor's office was laid on July 4, 2022. The construction was entrusted to Malika/Bajra JV Sindhupalchowk at a cost of Rs. 40 million. The company completed the construction 18 days ahead of the deadline.