KATHMANDU: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed serious concern over the arrest of former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana by Nepal Police.
The commission said a high-level monitoring team led by one of its members was stopped by police from meeting Rana and gathering information from him at the District Police Range, Teku, on Sunday.
The monitoring team also contacted senior police officials, but was not provided with any explanation as to why it was prevented from meeting Rana and conducting the monitoring.
The NHRC said Section 4(a) of the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2068 provides it with the legal authority to inspect and monitor public, private or other places as necessary and to issue recommendations or directions for the protection of human rights.
The commission expressed regret over what it described as conduct by Nepal Police contrary to its constitutional and legal authority.
In a statement issued by NHRC spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokharel, the commission urged the government to take action against police personnel who obstruct the commission from carrying out impartial investigations and fulfilling its constitutional and legal responsibilities, and to respect the powers granted to the commission.
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