Broadsheet dailies (both in Nepali and English) published in Kathmandu on Monday, April 11, 2016, have carried a wide range of stories on their front pages. The recommendation by the Constitutional Council to appoint Sushila Karki as Chief Justice, former President Ram Baran Yadav’s remarks on the integrity of the army at the launch of former Chief of Army Staff Gen Chhatraman Singh Gurung’s autobiography, and the fire in south India that killed over a hundred have been given considerable space on today’s front pages.

Important

Sushila Karki set to become Nepal’s first woman CJ

Almost all newspapers have given space to the Constitutional Council’s recommendation to appoint Sushila Karki as Nepal’s Chief Justice. While Republica has made it its lead story, Nagarik, Naya Patrika, Gorkhapatra, Annapurna Post and Rajdhani have also highlighted the story. In its lead story, Republica says, “The Constitutional Council, meeting on Sunday evening, decided to recommend Karki’s name for parliamentary hearings for appointment as chief justice. As per the constitution, the president of the country appoints the chief justice on the recommendation of the council if the Parliamentary Hearings Committee endorses the recommendation.”

Yadav’s remarks on Nepali Army 

Former President Ram Baran Yadav’s remarks during the launch of former CoAS Chhatraman Singh Gurung has made headlines on some front pages. While Annapurna Post has made it its lead story, Republica and Naya Patrika have also carried a report on their respective front pages. In its report, Annapurna Post quotes the former president as saying that a section of the political parties did not want Gurung to succeed Rukmangat Katwal as the army’s chief. Naya Patrika, in its report of the book launch, says President Yadav wanted a retired army general to lead the government that would conduct the second CA election.

Security force to be deployed for Khimti-Dhalekebar transmission line construction

The government has decided to mobilise the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police to provide security to the Khimti-Dhalkbar 220-KV 75-km transmission line. According to Annapurna Post, the National Human Rights Commission and the World Bank (two agencies where locals filed complaints against the project) have given their go-ahead to the government’s plans to mobilise security forces. 

Ignored

Premature C-sections

Nepal Republic Media’s Republica and Nagarik have an anchor story on how hospitals providing surrogacy services to foreign couples are handing over to them babies delivered before they are due. The reports, by the same author, say. “In one recent instance, an Australian couple had in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) carried out in an Indian surrogate mother on July 19, 2015. Grande City Clinic at Jamal, one of the leading surrogacy service providers in Kathmandu, delivered twin babies through C-section on January 28, 2016, which was exactly six months and nine days after the date of conception,” the Republica story says.

Sorry state of Kathmandu-Hetauda ropeway

Arthik Abhiyan has an anchor story on how the Kathmandu-Hetauda ropeway has been abandoned by the government and how it is becoming a danger to the local population. According to the report, the ropeway, which was constructed 50 years ago, used to carry 22o tonnes of goods in the 10 hours it used to be operated in daily. The service was formally closed around 10 years ago. With the gale-force winds sweeping the city, local residents say they are worried that the ropeway stations might collapse.

Interesting 

Penalties proposed for sub-standard telecom services

Karobar has a three-column report on Nepal Telecom Authority’s preparations to set minimum standards for telecoms services, and to fine operators, which do not meet those standards. According to the report, if the plan is implemented, operators may face a fine of up to Rs 100 million if they do not comply with minimum standards.

Work on Outer Ringroad to begin in November

Gorkhpatra has a two-column story (below the fold) on government plans to start work on the much-talked-about 72 km Outer Ringroad in Kathmandu. The report says the total estimated cost of the project is around 6.36 billion.