7 May 2025, Nepalgunj: A consultation programme focusing on the legal provisions and implementation status of diversion and sentence suspension within the juvenile justice system was held in Nepalgunj Wednesday. The event brought together various stakeholders committed to improving juvenile justice in Nepal.
The programme was jointly organized by Advocacy Forum-Nepal (AF) in collaboration with the Banke District Court and the Banke District Bar Association. Advocate Mehar Singh Khatri, President of the Banke District Bar Association, chaired the event, with Judge Subash Paudel of the Nepalgunj bench of the High Court, Tulsipur, serving as the chief guest. High Court Judges Poonam Singh and Basanta Raj Paudel were also present at the consultation.
The consultation addressed existing challenges in the implementation of juvenile justice, emphasizing the importance of inter-agency coordination and cooperation for effective outcomes. Speakers highlighted that the practice of diversion — an alternative to formal judicial proceedings — has not been adequately applied, urging all involved to centre the best interests of children in the justice process.
Judge Keshav Raj Chapai presented a conceptual paper on the legal and theoretical foundations of juvenile justice. Additionally, Advocate Basanta Gautam, Lumbini Province Senior Coordinator of AF, shared statistical findings from the organization’s activities over the past year. His presentation included observations from detention centre visits and analysis of both strengths and gaps in the juvenile and criminal justice systems.
During the event, participants committed to addressing identified issues and enhancing the system’s effectiveness from their respective positions. Advocate Gautam, who also conducted the programme, stated that the event aimed to identify shortcomings in the juvenile justice system and foster collaborative efforts to improve implementation.
Delivering remarks from the chief guest seat, Judge Subash Paudel stressed that no institution is without challenges, and emphasized the need to exercise sound judicial discretion, especially when interpreting laws designed to prioritize children’s best interests. He advocated for using discretion in areas where the law allows leniency.
Chief District Officer Joshi and Superintendent Gharti reaffirmed their dedication to implementing juvenile justice provisions. District Government Attorney Deshraj Bharti also pledged to enhance his office’s role in implementing juvenile justice and to focus more on the application of diversion in future cases.
The programme concluded with a shared commitment from all stakeholders to improve juvenile justice delivery and uphold the legal and moral imperative of serving the best interests of children.
Among the participants were District Judges Bhishma Raj Prasai, Keshav Raj Chapai, Chandra Prakash Tiwari, Indra Bahadur Kathayat, and Deepak Ghimire from the Banke District Court, along with Sapana Adhikari, Registrar of the Nepalgunj High Court. Senior legal officials including Ashok Raj Regmi, Chief Public Prosecutor from the High Government Attorney’s Office in Nepalgunj, and Devraj Bharti, District Government Attorney of Banke, also joined the program.
High-level administrative and law enforcement representatives contributed to the discussions, including Chief District Officer Dharmaraj Joshi, Superintendent of Police Ram Bahadur Gharti from the Banke District Police Office, and Superintendent of Armed Police Shobha Kant Rawal. Other key attendees included Inspectors Yam Bahadur Malla, Purna Bahadur KC, and Maniram Chaudhary from local police units.
The legal fraternity was represented by figures such as Ishwari Prasad Gyawali, member of the Nepal Bar Council; Chitra Bahadur Shahi, President of the High Bar Association Nepalgunj; and Jay Prasad Paudel, Secretary of the District Bar Association. Also present were senior advocates including Sunil Kumar Shrestha, Prahlad Bahadur Karki, Lok Bahadur Shah, and Bhola Singh Hamal, along with human rights defenders Prabhat Kumar Thakuri and Tek Nath Acharya.
The health and child protection sectors were represented by forensic doctor Dr. Arbind Shakya and Nursing Inspector Basundhara Gyawali of Bheri Hospital, as well as Shyam Bahadur Rana and Bimala Kaucha, heads of the Nauwasta and Asmanpur juvenile reform homes, respectively. In total, 62 participants attended the event.
