Judiciary should ensure equal rights to all: PN Bhagwati

Kathmandu, Dec 19 (UNI) Judiciary should play an important role in bringing economic, social and cultural rights to the poor masses, former Chief Justice of India P N Bhagwati said.

Delivering a key note speech at a talk program on ''Justiciability of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights'' yesterday, Mr Bhagwati said, ''Judiciary should play a proactive role for enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights and to make the rights meaningful for the masses.'' ''The courts should be creative enough to enforce economic, social and cultural rights and to ensure that justice reaches the ''heart and home'' of the large masses,'' the Kantipur quoted him, as saying.

Mr Bhagwati is currently on a two-day visit of Nepal at the invitation of the International Commission of Jurists and National Judicial Academy.

Addressing the programme attended by a group of judges, lawyers, and human rights activists, Mr Bhagawati said civil and political rights cannot materialise unless economic, social and cultural rights are realised by the poor and marginalised section of the nation.

''State cannot ignore carrying out the duties defined by the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the ground of poverty. It should perform at least minimum core responsibilities in this regard,'' he added.

UNI