KATHMANDU, Sept 21:The government is preparing to form a high-level judicial probe commission under the leadership of former Special Court chair and former Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki to investigate the incidents that occurred during the Gen-Z protests.
On Monday, the Council of Ministers, led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki, made a principal decision to form a judicial probe commission. Preparations are now underway to establish it under the leadership of former Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki.
The cabinet meeting held last Monday had decided in principle to form such a body, though it had not finalized what the structure of the commission would be. Now, however, Karki’s name has been confirmed, according to sources. “Preparations to form a three-member commission are underway, and it will be constituted under the chairmanship of a former justice,” the source said.
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A Home Ministry official stated that the government has decided to establish a high-level judicial probe commission to investigate the loss of lives and instances of excesses. The commission will be coordinated by former Justice Karki, whose name has been finalized for this role.
Earlier, there had been plans to form a commission under the leadership of a former justice, but the commission and the individuals to be included in it had not been confirmed.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission has also formed a task force led by member Lily Thapa to investigate human rights violations during the protests. The commission stated that the task force has begun work to prepare a report within 45 days. During the Gen-Z protests, 73 individuals—including youth, students, security personnel, and prisoners—lost their lives. The government's negligence contributed to these civilian deaths, resulting in significant loss and damage.
Important government structures have also been destroyed. The judicial probe commission will investigate who bears responsibility for this incident. After the Gen-Z movement, the popularly elected government led by KP Sharma Oli, supported by Congress and UML, collapsed, and an interim Council of Ministers under former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was formed. The current cabinet consists of three ministers. The current Council of Ministers has been entrusted with the responsibility of investigating the loss of lives and property and of holding elections for the House of Representatives within six months.
The cabinet meeting held last Monday had also decided to form a commission to investigate the repression during the protests. On the very day she assumed office, Prime Minister Karki pledged that those involved in vandalism and arson of government/public and private property would be brought under the purview of action.
