SC issues show cause order in Nepali migrant workers' case

Kathmandu, 13 April - The Supreme Court of Nepal issued a show cause order in the case concerning the legal assistance to be provided to Nepali Migrant Workers languishing in jails in foreign countries.

The Public Interest Litigation was filed before the Supreme Court on April 11 seeking assurance regarding free legal aid, mutual legal assistance mechanisms and agreements, mechanisms to protect the rights of families to have sufficient information about the detainees in foreign jails and facilitation of the transfer of sentenced migrant workers in Nepal by Law and Policy Forum for Social Justice.

After the preliminary hearing on Thursday, the single bench of Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai issued the show cause order against the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) and other concerned ministries including Department of Foreign Employment and Foreign Employment Promotion Board regarding the difficulties faced by Nepali migrant workers in foreign jails in absence of an appropriate legal aid and assistance mechanisms.

Recognizing the gravity of the case, the court issued an order to consider the further hearing of the court under “priority hearing.” Representing the applicant organization, Advocates Hari Phuyal, Barun Ghimire, Anurag Devkota Milan Rai, and Kedar Dahal argued before the Supreme Court in today’s preliminary hearing.