E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, JUN 01 -

The war within the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recently seen some positive signals of resolution.

According to Commissioner and Spokesman Gauri Pradhan, NHRC, over the last couple of months, has intensified informal negotiations with two disgruntled commissioners -- KB Rokaya and Leela Pathak -- urging them to attend the commission's board meetings. The two members have not attended any board meetings for the last 20 months.

“They are willing to take part in the meetings if a favourable environment is created,” he said. “We are doing our best to that direction.”

The recently noted positivism was on May 27 when both Rokaya and Pathak attended a programme organised on the office premises to mark NHRC's 11th anniversary. This was the first formal programme of the office that the duo attended after the rift erupted some 20 months ago.

Rokaya said they have never had any problem in attending the office's formal events if a “favourable environment” was created and the commissioners showed interests in addressing their demand.

However, the “bottom line” demand put forth by the duo to remove NHRC Secretary Bishal Khanal from his post remains contentious. While Rokaya and Pathak are adamant on their demand, NHRC chairman and other commissioners seem unwilling to remove the secretary.

The dissenting faction has charged the secretary with graft in a vehicle purchase deal involving Rs 6 million. “We were denied the documents of the new vehicles when sought them,” Rokaya said. “This is a clear case of graft.” However, since none of the allegations is proven, the NHRC members are reluctant to remove Khanal.

 Chairman Kedar Nath Upadhyay said NHRC has been handling the case with "extra care and delicacy.” "They are  welcome to attend the meetings and put forth their notes of dissent," said Upadhyay.

Rokaya and Pathak have written to the chairman, demanding that he call a meeting. The letter also demands inclusion of a representative from parliament's International Relations and Human Rights Committee to witness all discussions. “We should talk in the presence of a representative from the parliament. The House committee is ready to send a representative if NHRC chairman calls a meeting,”

said Rokaya.

However, Chairman Upadhyay is not happy with the idea. “We are capable of resolving our issues,” he said. “A meeting will be called soon but we will not invite a House committee's representative. If the parliamentary committee itself wants to send a representative, we won't have any problem.”

Posted on: 2011-06-01 08:54

Post Your Comment

Please note that all the fields marked * are mandatory.
* Full Name
* Address
* Email Address
* Comment
* Captcha	Get another CAPTCHA code
Note:	Comments containing abusive words or slander shall not be published.