Suraj Ray, law student at Nepal Law Campus, Tribhuwan University, Nepal, discusses the state-sponsored impunity awarded in Nepal with respect to the criminal justice system.
One of the latest achievements of the criminal justice system is the acceptance of repentance, serf-reformation, and reconciliation, drifting from the classical concept of strict punishment as a measure against crime. The concept of providing amnesty emerged in the past as a means to correct any error in the judgment of courts, is now practiced as a reformative justice system. Accordingly, the provides the President with the power to grant pardons, suspend, commute or remit any sentence passed by any Court, judicial or quasi-judicial body, in accordance with the law. Similar practices have been observed in several countries. However, the power conferred by the constitution is being misused by the government resulting in state-sponsored impunity, thereby threatening the rule of law.