Pokhara, May 27: The two-day workshop on the rule of law and legal practitioners organised by International Commission of Jurists (I.C.J.) Nepal Chapter got underway here today.

Sixteen legal practitioners of the western region are taking part in the workshop.

Supreme Court Justice Kedarnath Upadhyaya, inaugurating the workshop, said that the main responsibility of the legislature, judiciary and the executive and the agencies under them is to ensure the rule of law.

Stating that the judges, legal practitioners and the journalists are the pillars of the rule of law, Mr Upadhyaya said that all concerned should be duty bound to make the people have faith in the law.

Another Supreme Court Justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi said that rule of law is not possible without an independent judiciary.

Mr Rayamajhi said that the judges and the legal practitioners have an equal responsibility in dispensing speedy justice.

Senior advocate Ganesh Raj Sharma pointed out the need for the lawyers to take any risk to ensure faith in law and the courts and protect its interests. Special attention should be given to good conduct, he added.

From the chair, president of I.C.J. Nepal Chapter and senior advocate Madhu Prasad Sharma said that taking into consideration the fact that the government is spending millions of rupees on foreign lawyers, the judges and the legal practitioners should make their studies extensive and prove their efficiency to the government.

Chapter vice-president motikaji sthapit also expressed his views on the occasion.