The experts on law and language have decried the Supreme Court’s verdict on use of English language on embossed number plate of vehicles. They argued that SC did constitutional blunder with this decision.
The constitutional bench of SC was against jurisprudence as it delivered the verdict that Romanized English script could be used in the vehicle’s number plate, which the experts argues, ignored the use and value of Devanagari script. The constitutional bench in 2076BS had delivered such verdict by overturning the mandamus that had asked the government not to implement its decision to use embossed number plate in vehicles.
At a seminar on ‘Use of Devanagari script in vehicle’s number plate: Need and relevance’ organized by Nepal Academy here Friday, senior advocate Narendra Prasad Pathak viewed it was a blunder to efface identity in the name of modernity. He blamed that administrators, politicians and judges were not sensitive to this regard. Law can be amended to correct the court order, he stressed.
Another senior advocate Hari Upreti wondered how the case on embossed number entered SC’s constitutional bench. “The court described it as technology-friendly which reflects dearth of knowledge among judges. It is a constitutional blunder,” he argued, adding the verdict ignored article 7 of the constitution.
“Such decision must have come because of financial lure. Court does many things in dark. This very role might have worked in this case,” observed another senior advocate Harihar Dahal.
Similarly, advocate Sambhu Thapa also accused the court of involving in financial maneuvering while delivering such verdict. “Can’t we emboss Nepali script as done to English script,” he wondered.
Vice Chancellor of Nepal Academy Ganga Prasad Upreti viewed SC’s verdict could not be tolerated. It is an assault on Nepali language and culture.
Academy’s Member Secretary Jagat Prasad Upadhyay reminded that even then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and Minister for Physical Infrastructures and Transport were reminded of court verdict that allowed use of Romanized English script on embossed number of plate of vehicle.
Senior linguist Prof Dr Krishna Prasad Ghimire viewed if the Devanagari script is effaced in such way, it would risk identity. “It’s time to protect identity, language and history,” he underscored.
Source: National News Agency Nepal
