Nepal, Sept. 30 -- In the wee hours of Sunday, police arrested former Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana from his residence without any arrest warrant. This raised questions over the legality of the arrest. Following the reports about the arrest, a team of the National Human Rights Commission, led by member Manoj Duwady, reached the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Bureau to take stock of the situation. After making them wait for nearly 45 minutes, the police denied them a meeting with Rana. In doing so, the human rights watchdog was prevented from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.

Whenever the Commission has reasons to suspect a violation of human rights, it is expected to act, as in Rana's case. Those exercising ...