Kathmandu, May 8: Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya released here today a book entitled “Annual survey of Nepalese law 2000” published for the first time by the Nepal Bar Council, on the occasion of Law Day.

On the occasion, the Chief Justice called upon various institutions and organisations to publicise the achievement made by Nepal in the field of law.

Chief Justice Upadhyaya said the book covering the legal situation of the country, the interpretations of the law made by the Supreme Court and opinions and presentations of various views would be useful to research scholars in the field of law.

Council president and Attorney General Badri Bahadur Karki said that institutions and organisations abroad cover the legal process and precedents established in those countries and provide information on the overall legal process every year.

The book has started to inform the international arena of the legal situation of the country, he added.

President of Nepal Bar Association Harihar Dahal said that with the ushering in of the new millennium, legal practitioners should go for competition in the international field.

Chairman of the examination conducting committee Prakash Basti, secretary of the publications committee Sher Bahadur K.C. and member of the council Chandeswar Shrestha also expressed their views at the programme chaired by convenor of the publishing committee Kanak Bikram Thapa.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya has spoken of the need to rectify the shortcomings in the existing laws and codify them.

Chief Justice Upadhyaya made this remark while inaugurating a one-day colloquium on “Codification of laws and challenges” here today.

At the colloquium, Appellate Court chief judge Min Bahadur Rayamajhi said the existing civil and criminal laws are not enough to meet the needs of the day and added that codification of laws is necessary to have better legal knowledge.

Nepal Bar Association president Harihar Dahal said at a time when adequate laws have not been formulated as per the spirit of the constitution, codification of law might be a big challenge.

Reader at Nepal Law Campus Madhav Prasad Acharya said since the precedents of laws and courts have not been documented in a planned manner a lot of confusion arises in decision making process.

He also stressed the need to hold extensive discussion on how to rectify the shortcomings in the old laws including the civil code and codify the laws.

Nepal Bar Association secretary Agni Kharel and treasurer Badri Prasad Bhandari also expressed their views.

Association president Rabindra Jung Thapa presided.

Also today, Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya has said that celebration of the law day would bear any meaning only when we are able to successfully fulfil our responsibility of protecting human rights and the dignity of citizens as guaranteed by the constitution.

Mr. Upadhyaya was speaking at a talk programme organised by the Supreme Court on the occasion of the Law Day here today.

Supreme Court Justice Kedar Nath Upadhyaya said that law should be meant for ensuring justice and that those implementing laws should be morally upright and responsible.

Attorney General Badri Bahadur Karki said supremacy of law is the essence of democracy.

From the chair, Supreme Court justice Laxman Prasad Aryal said strict adherence to law helps democracy flourish. Nepal Bar Association president Harihar Dahal also expressed his views. Reception: Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya hosted a reception on the occasion of the Law Day at the Supreme Court today.

The Speaker, the heads of constitutional bodies, the ministers, ex-chief justices and justices, the heads of diplomatic missions, legal practitioners and senior government officers attended the reception.