Supreme Court halts immigration plans in Lumbini, Pashupatinagar
KATHMANDU, JUL 09 -
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the government not to proceed with the establishment of immigration check points in Lumbini and Pashupatinagar as floated by the Indian authorities during the Home secretary-level talks in Kathmandu last month.
A single bench of Justice Tarka Raj Bhatta stayed the decision of the meeting to allow Indian authorities to upgrade Immigration at the Tribhuvan International Airport. The court has asked the defendants to explain all the issues within 15 days of receiving the order. Defendants in the petition include Interim Election Government Chairman Khil Raj Regmi, Minister for Home and Foreign Affairs Madhav Ghimire, chief secretary, Home secretary and Foreign Secretary.
The bench was responding to a petition filed by former apex court Registrar Shree Prasad Pandit on Friday against the proposal of the Indian government to establish immigration check points in Lumbini and Pashupatinagar. Petitioner Pandit has termed the move as an attempt to compromise Nepal’s national sovereignty.
Citing the minutes of the meeting between Home secretaries of India and Nepal on June 1, Pandit argues that the Nepali side agreed in principle to the proposal of establishing the immigration check points and has told the Indian side that it would officially respond through diplomatic channels.
Pandit maintains that as per the previous Supreme Court order any such move would require parliament’s approval. He demanded a court order for the government not to forward the proposal unless it is ratified by parliament.
In his petition, Pandit charges that the Indian side is trying to push its claims on the Nepali territory by establishing immigration check points. “…this is an attempt to create a strong evidence that those places where Indian immigration check points remain are part of the Indian territory,” reads the petition. The petitioner maintains that checkpoints are established within the territory of a country.
0 comments
Write Down Your Responses