Criminal Justice Department is dedicated to providing access to justice for disadvantaged and indigent Nepalese by providing legal information, advice and representation. Legal aid is offered to all victims of human rights violations such as illegal detention, torture, extra-judicial killings, disappearances and rape committed by the state, erstwhile rebels and vigilantes. Legal aid includes Para-legal services, legal counseling, representation of cases in different judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, as well as assisting victims and their families in taking legal action through different forms, including UN thematic mechanisms, and the UN Human Rights Committee, for urgent action and attention. The objective behind providing legal aid is to ensure that victims of human rights violations understand their right to pursue justice. Offering free legal counseling and para-legal services means that all victims can have access to justice regardless of their education or economic status. Free legal aid exercises the constitutional right of detainees guaranteed under Article 24 (2) (10) of the Interim Constitution.

Since the existing legal aid system of the country has not been able to ascertain the constitutional rights of detainees to consult with lawyer from the time of arrest, the department provides legal aid to detainees from the pre-trial stage and represents the cases from prosecution to adjudication. We register a case of habeas corpus within 24 hours if we stumble upon a case of illegal detention.  Moreover, the department also files Public Interest Litigations (PILs) before the Supreme Court on various issues.

Please see Annual Report for activities of the department