Dalits’ Rights under Nepalese Legal System
By Tek Tamrakar, Advocate (Gold Medalist/LL.M., Tribhuvan University, Nepal), 2003
Published by: Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO)
Supported by: Lutheran World Federation (LWF)

“The Dalits of Nepal are subject to many forms of discrimination, exploitation, suppression and violence that jeopardize their basic rights, guaranteed by the national as well as international laws.”

“This book serves as an excellent advocacy tool as a resource for diverse practitioners including the human rights activists and the organizations working on Dalit issues.”

- Marceline P. Rosario, Country Representative
Lutheran World Federation, Nepal.

Price: N.Rs. 300. US$ 20.
Available from:
Feminist Dalil Organization (FEDO)
P.O. Box: 4366
Kupondole, Lalitpur, Nepal
Tel: 977-1-5520982, 5543986, Fax: 977-1-5520982
E-mail: dms@fedo.wlink.com.np

Table of Contents

CHAPTER – 1 HINDUISMANDCASTESYSTEM 1-7
1.1 CASTESYSTEM 1
1.2 HINDUISMANDDALITS 3

CHAPTER – 2 DALIT COMMUNITY UNDER NEPALESE LEGAL SYSTEM 8-29
2.1THECONSTITUTION ANDDALITCOMMUNITY 10
2.1.1 Right to Equality 12
2.1.2 Right to Freedom 16
2.1.3 Right Regarding Criminal Justice 19
2.1.4 Right to Culture and Education 20
2.1.5 F..ightRegarding Religion 22
2.1.6 Right against Exploitation 24
2.1.7 Right to Privacy 26
2.1.8 Right to Remedy 27

CHAPTER. 3 INTERNATIONALLEGAL OBLIGATIONS 79-94
THE DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES AND THE STATE POLICIES… 30-47
3.1 DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES AS A FORM OFS OCIO ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL RIGHT 34
3.1.1 Political Pluralism 37
3.1.2 Cultural Pluralism 39
3.1.3 Linguistic Diversity 41
3.1.4 Feministic Jurisprudence 42
3.1.5 Caste Discriminatiol1 44

CHAPTER – 4 EXISTING LAWS AND DALIS… 48-74
4.1 COUNTRYLAW(MULUKIAlN), 1963 48
4.2 HUMANRIGHTSCOMMISSIONACT. 1996 50
4.3 CIVIL’LIBERTIESACT. 1945 53
4.4 LEGALAIDACT. 1997 55
4.5 DEFAMATIONLIBELACT. 1959 57
4.6 LOCALSELF-GOVERNANCEACT. 1999 58
4.7 BOUNDEDLABOUR(PROHIBITION)ACT. 2001 61
4.8 SOCIALWELFAREACT, 1992 63
4.9 CHILDRENACT, 1991 64
4.10 NEPALCITIZENSHIPACT, 1963 65
4.11 CHILDLABOR(PROHIBITIONANDREGULATION)ACT. 2000 66
4.12 EDUCATION(7THAMENDMENT)ACT, 1951 67
4.13 RULEREGARDINGSCHOLARSHIP.2003 68
4.14 NATIONALBROADCASTACT. 1992 70
4.15 OLDHERITAGEPROTECTIONACT, 1956 71
4.16 MAHENDRASANSKRITUNIVERSITYACT. 1966 71
4.17 POLITICALPARTIESACT, 2001 72
4.18 PRESSANDPUBLICATIONACT, 1991 73
4.19 FILM (PRODUCTION,EXHIBITIONANDDISTRIBUTION)ACT, 1991…74

CHAPTER – 5 EXISTING DISCRIMINATORY LEGAL PROVISIONS AGAINST
DALIT 75-78

CHAPTER. 6 INTERNATIONAL LEGAL OBLIGATION ..75-94

6.1 DALITCOMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL LEGAL OBLIGATION 79
6.1.1 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 80
6.1.2 International Convention on Elimination of All kinds of Racial
Discrimination, (ICERD) 1965 82
6.1.3 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights (ICESCR), 1966 85
6.1.4 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),
1966 86
6.1.5 Convention on Elimination of All kinds of Discrimination of Women (CEDAW), 1979 88
6.1.6 Covenant on Child Rights (CRC), 1989 90
6.1.7 Convention against Torture and other Cruel,
Inhumane/Degrading Treatment, (CA T) 1984 91
6.2 LEGAL STATUS OF INTERNAT/ONAL OBLIGATIONS 93

CHAPTER. 7
PREVAILINGSTATUSOF DALITIN NEPAL 95-112
7.1 PROBLEMS AND PERSPECfIVE OF THE DALIT COMMUNITY IN NEPAL 95
7.1.1 Untouchability and Discrimination 95
7.1.2 Low Participation of Dalits in Public Organs of State 97
7.1.3 Forced Labour 98
7.1.4 Acute Poverty 99
7.1.5 Stereotypical Text Books 99
7.2 DALITWOMENINNEPAL:PROBLEMSANDPERSPECf/VE 103
7.2.1 Domestic Violence 105
7.2.2 Trafficking 106
7.2.3 Dowry /07
7.2.4 Inter-caste Marriage /08
7.2.5 Unequal Remuneration 108
7.2.6 Violation of Right to Property 109
7.3 PROBLEMS’ OFBADIWOMEN 110

CHAPTER. 8
SOCIALJUSTICE ANDJUDICIARy 113-131
8.1 SUPREMECOURTONDALITCOMMUNITY 119
8.2 JUDICIALATTITUDETOWARDSDALITCOMMUNITY 121
8.3 JUDICIALACfIV/SM ANDCASTED/sCRIM/NATION 127

CHAPTER. 9
POSITIVE ATTEMPTS OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE
PROTECTION OF DALIT RIGHTS IN NEPAL 133.153
9.1 CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION FOR THE PROTEcrIVE D;SCRIMINATION. 134
9.2 NATIONALCOMMISSION FORDALIT 135
9.2.1 Some Problemsfaced by the Commission 140
9.2.2 Coordination with other Human Rights Organizations..143
9.3 COMMITTEE FOR DEPRESSED, DEPRIVED ANDDALIT COMMUNITY
(UPEKSHIT UTPIDIT DALIT BIKASSAMITEE) 147 .
9.4 NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN 149
9.5 NATIONAL HUMAN R/GHTS COMMISSION 150
9.6 MINISTRY OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL WELFARE 152

CHAPTER. 10
( ‘URRENTVOICESOF DALITFOR CHANGE 154-180
I0.1 RESERVATION POLICY 157
10.11 Development 159
101/.2 Rationality 161
10.1.3 Time Span 162
10.1.4 The Basisfor Reservation 163
10.1.5 Modalitiesfor the Reservation /63
10.1.6 Quantum of Reservation 164
10.1.7 Division of Reservation 165
10.1.8 Negative Opinions about Reservation 166
10.1.9 Protectionist Approach of Resel1′ation 167
10.2 THEISSUEOFDALITANDCONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 169
10.2.1 Inclusion of Right to Work and Accommodation 172
10.2.2 Right to Equality with Reservation 172
10.2.3 Equal Payfor Equal Work to Dalit /73
10.2.4 Inclusion of Specific Provision of Fundamental Duty to adopt
Directive Principle 174
10.2.5 Change to the Modality of Electoral System 174
10.’2.6 Specific Article for the Endorsement of Initiative and
Plebiscite Systenz 176
10.2.7 Inclusion of Re- call System 176
10.2.8 Amend Article 9 of the Constitution l77
10.2.9 Inclusion of Right against Untouchability as a Fundamental
Right… 177
10.2.10Extend the Scope of A/tide 46 of the Existing Constitution 178
10.2.11 Extend the Scope of Article 114 of the Constitution 178
10.21/2 Right to Life with Dignity 178
10.2.13 Free Medicare as a State Policy 179
10.2.14 Guarantee of Secular State 179
10.2.15 Constitutional Guarantee of Commission for Dalit 179

CHAPTER. 11
SOURCES OF SOCIAL CHANGE 181-186
11.1 SOCIALIZATION 181
11.2 PLANNING 182
11.3 LEGISLATION 183
11.4 EDUCATION 184
11.5 AGITATION\CONFLICT 185

CHAPTER. 12
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND DALIT ISSUE 187-191
12.1 TRANSPARENCY 188
12.2 RULEOFLAW 188
12.3 INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION 189
12.4EQUITABLEGoVERNANCE 190
12.5 ACCOUNTABILITY.. 190

CHAPTER. 13
CONCLUSIONANDRECOMMENDATIONS 192-201

BIBILIOGRAPHY 202-204