SLC exams begin

Kathmandu, 25 March: This year’s SLC examinations began Thursday at eight in the morning nation-wide.
Students sat Thursday for compulsory English.
Altogether 1,500 plus Maoist combatants in cantonments and satellite camps also appeared for the test.
There was a clash between police and students at a center in Saptari.
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Chairman Nemwang holding consultations with three parties

Kathmandu, 25 March: Constituent assembly (CA) Chairman Subash Nemwang is continuing consultations Thursday with Maoists, Nepali Congress and UML leaders to narrow down differences of concepts to be included in a constitution that has to be promulgated by 28 May.
The CA still has to send concepts and suggestions of nine subject committees to a main constitution drafting committee to prepare a draft of a basic to institutionalize a republic announced by an unelected and self-appointed parliament.
Only two suggestions of subject committees have been sent to the main committee.
Only 64 days remain to announce a constitution.
The deadline is unlikely to be met.
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Leadership change at supreme court

Kathmandu, 25 March” Supreme Court Chief Justice Anup Raj Sharma is being superannuated Thursday after reaching 62 years of age after serving nearly three months after appointment—the shortest tenure of any chief justice.
He was the first senior lawyer to be appointed chief justice; previous justices were judges of the apex court.
Ram Prasad Shrestha will succeed Sharma.
Shrestha has been summoned Thursday by parliament’s hearing committee where two complaints have been lodged.
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Indian children missing from monastery

Kathmandu, 25 March: Six Indian children enrolled in a monastery in Kathmandu have gone missing, The Himalayan Times reports.
They were last seen at Phuntsok Choeling Monastery at Ichanghu Nayaran VDC-6 close to Boudhanath stupa on March 1.
The boys-all under 13 years of age who hailed from East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh in India- went missing a couple of weeks after they got enrolled in the monastery in mid-February, the police said today [Wednesday].
Inspector Kuber Chand, in-charge of the Metropolitan Police Sector at Swoyambhu, said three Indians had admitted them in them in the monastery on behalf of the parents.
According to monastery officials, their parents had arrived in Kathmandu on March 4 to learn of their kids’ whereabouts.
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Nepal, India sign passport deal

Kathmandu, 25 March: The long saga over the machine readable passport (MRP) is over, The Kathmandu Post reports.
Foreign Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai an Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood on Wednesday exchanged letters for the supply of MRP to Nepal by the Indian government undertaking-Nasik –based Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India.
The cabinet had decided to award the contract to India last Friday.
As per the agreement, the Indian government will provide four million MRPs—the current passport demand in Nepal-within three years at the rate of US$4 per copy.
(Note: Parliament’s public account committee is summoning Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal for a hearing after the foreign ministry and the government ignored its directive to issue passports by calling a tender.)
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Former King Gyanendra indicates monarchy could stage comeback

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 25 March: Leaders of major political parties reacted sharply to former King Gyanendra’s statement monarchy isn’t dead yet.
He also told Avenue Television Wednesday there have rises and falls, comings and goings in history, indicating monarchy could stage a comeback in Nepal with people’s desire.
“I don’t feel like it has ended. That’s why it’s hypothetical. While turning the pages of history of nations, rise and fall and comings and goings happen, I feel.
“That’s why I want to repeat, the people should decide through deep thought and responsibly and whatever the people decide should be accepted by all.
“My wish is whatever the majority want. I feel right now there’s need for the security of life and property of ordinary people. My prayer is let there be peace in the country,” Gyanendra said in response to a question.
“You’ve asked a hypothetical question,” the last Shah king said in reply to a question whether he’ll ready to be king again if the people desire.
“Whether its monarchy or other national issues, the people’s thoughts and wishes should be accepted by all.”
The former king said he’ll continue to stay in Nepal.
“My plan before and now is to stay in Nepal, serve Nepal and Nepalis,” he said in reply to a question. “Concern is for the nation and national unity. Let the ordinary people stay comfortably and in peace.”
The only person to be king twice anywhere said in reply to a question he was conducting power politics,” I don’t have that thought and intention. We left without doing anything for the country’ s peace and well-being.”
The 10th king said: “Kings have never sought power. No king anytime has said he’s god. I’ve never personally found it difficult before or now to go to the people.”
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said: “Nepali people have ended monarchy. The decision of history can’t be resurrected.”
Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel said,” The statement of Gyanendra Shah in Janakpur is an effort to undermine the janaandonan. Nepali Congress are not in favour of turning back.
Maoist Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai demanded immediate action against the former king.
“Former King Gyanendra has spoken against the people’s wish and decision of history. That is challenge to people’s wish. People should counter his challenge. He should be brought before the people and should be charged.
‘We ask the government to immediately take action against Gyanendra and initiate charges,” Bhattarai said.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“As a junior justice of the supreme court, I have developed negative feelings for the senior judges whom I wait for hours on end to join a bench for hearing but the so-called senior judges spent hours smoking cigarettes inside their chambers.”

(Supreme Court Justice Bharat Raj Upreti, The Himalayan Times, 25 March)

“We accepted Girijababu as the head of the mechanism because of his seniority. Now the other parties don’t have what it takes to lead the mechanism.”

(Maoist Vice-Chairman Mohan Baidya Kiran, The Kathmandu Post, 25 March)
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