Respect for law

With a case against a former Home Minister being sub-judice in a court of law, people’s attention has once again been drawn towards it. It is natural for people to show interest in it for the Minister concerned is also a popular leader, a member of parliament and the head of a political party. Nepalis know well that this is not the first time that a former Home Minister has been alleged and arrested in the country in connection with a case. Past history shows that people in such circumstances allow the law to take its own natural course in the court; there are evidences in such historical cases in which political parties, civil society and others do not seek to do anything that could interfere with value and practice of independent judiciary. The same should guide all concerned in their response to the case. The same should be the norm for all as they try to ventilate their frustration, opinion, or anger over the latest case. If the norm is broken, there will be disrespect for law and various types of disturbances will emerge which will ultimately affect delivery of justice. All in democracy should abide by law; that is the only way through which we could make democratic values and the values of independent judiciary sustainable in practice. Political leaders and parties should take special care in not interfering with the procedure of rule of law. It would at times demand patience and hard work for them to do so. They should be prepared for this; a sense of tolerance would help them to maintain respect for law and the working procedure under legal regime. Those who are committed to the task of delivery of justice should also understand well various provisions of law, procedures of the same and the elaborate interpretations of law. They should take special care not to allow a sense of revenge or a sense of bias of any variety to guide them in all procedures and discussion on the case. The path to justice should be made clear of any shade of tilt, any measure of fear or favour and any sort of lapse or weakness. The person who has been alleged has a right to get fair, free and timely treatment and verdict under the law of the country. No excuse in this regard can be tolerated in a democracy. Politicians and those who support or back them have a duty not to politicize such cases. There are various issues in the country to do politics on. Politicization of sub-judice cases would not facilitate the great cause of accountability in a democracy. That is why all should respect the law and its procedures.