KATHMANDU, May 3: Nepal Bar Association (NBA) President Professor Dr Bijaya Prasad Mishra has said that it is unfortunate for a government with nearly a two-thirds majority to rely on ordinances instead of parliamentary processes.
Speaking at a program marking World Press Freedom Day in the capital, Dr. Mishra stressed that active vigilance from civil society is essential to protect press freedom and democracy. He said press freedom remains under global risk and must be defended not only in constitutional provisions but also in practice.
Dr Mishra criticized the current government, saying that rather than seeking parliamentary approval, it has been resorting to ordinances, which he described as detrimental to democratic norms.
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He emphasized that laws should be introduced as bills in parliament and passed only after sufficient debate. “It is against democratic practice to suddenly remove merit-based officials overnight through ordinances,” he said.
He also expressed concern over recent eviction drives, particularly against squatters, saying that humanitarian sensitivity has been ignored. He argued that such actions violate the constitutional right to housing.
Without proper investigation and ignoring legal documents such as land ownership certificates and approved maps, using bulldozers to displace citizens is condemnable, he said.
Dr Mishra further urged the National Human Rights Commission to publish an impartial report on the Gen-Z movement protests held on September 8 and 9.
