Representatives from various groups of conflict victims and human rights activists have demanded greater transparency in the selection process of officials for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP).

Concerns were raised about the lack of clarity in the criteria used to shortlist candidates and limited access for victims and civil society to participate in the process.

In a petition submitted to the recommendation committee, key stakeholders called for public hearings for shortlisted candidates, virtual access for those unable to attend in person, and live broadcasting of presentations of the candidates through official platforms. The petition, signed by prominent victim representatives including Suman Adhikari and Geeta Rasaili, emphasised that a transparent process is crucial for restoring trust in the commissions. Other applicants include Sushila Chaudhary, Srijana Shrestha, Gopal Bahadur Shah, Surendra Khatri, Niranjan Kumar Chaudhary, Rupesh Shah and Bablu Lama.

The petitioners criticised the recent publication of candidates’ names and presentation schedules in the Gorkhapatra, state-run newspaper, without adequate provisions for public involvement. They also demanded clarity on the criteria for evaluating and shortlisting candidates, citing constitutional and legal provisions under Nepal’s Right to Information Act.

The transitional justice commissions, first established in 2015, have faced widespread criticism for inefficiency. While the TRC has received over 63,000 complaints and the CIEDP around 2,400 cases, progress has been minimal. Both commissions have been defunct since July 2022, and new appointments have been delayed due to legislative hurdles.

The amended Act now mandates a four-year term for the commissions, with provisions for extension if necessary. The government has reconstituted the recommendation committee, led by former Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra, to finalise nominations by the year-end.

“Transparency and victim participation in the nomination process are vital to ensure credible leadership in the commissions,” said Adhikari, a founding chairperson of the Conflict Victims Common Platform.

The commissions are expected to resume operations early next year, with their effectiveness closely watched by both victims and human rights defenders.