Number of complaints registered with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has crossed 50,000.

Given the rate at which the commission has been receiving complaints from conflict victims, the figure is expected to reach 60,000 by Saturday, when the extended deadline to register cases ends.

The TRC had extended the deadline by one month as per the request of the conflict victims.

“If we take complaint forms that we have distributed into account, the number of total complaints can go up to 60,000,” said TRC Chair Surya Kiran Gurung.

Formed in February last year, the commission has been mandated for two years to look into conflict-era cases.

The first year was wasted by the delay on the part of the government in passing the regulation for the commission, while the second year was relatively productive, as the commission started receiving complaints from the conflict victims.

“What we need immediately is endorsement of the laws that we had forwarded to the government in mid-December,” said Gurung. “There should not be delay in amending the laws if we are to proceed with the process.”

 The commission has sought amendment to the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act, 2071 (2014) in line with the Supreme Court verdict, which includes criminalising torture, disappearance, removal of statute limitation to register case and clarity in provisions related to “serious crime”, “serious human rights violation” and “other crimes of serious nature”.

Gurung said he was hopeful of expedited investigation process in the remaining seven months.

“It depends on resources the government provides us,” he said. “We will have to put extra efforts to complete the process within the given time.”

As per the law, the commission’s mandate, however, can be extended by a year.

The Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons has already sought extension of term by one year to conclude the process, as it has prepared a work plan of three years.

According Attorney General Hari Phuyal, the government has been mulling extension of terms of both the commissions.

“The term extension of the commissions and amendment to the Act as well as new bills are on priority list,” said Phuyal. “The government has readied the amendment bills.”

A transitional justice mechanism was envisioned in 2006 when the comprehensive peace deal was signed between then seven-party alliance and the rebel Maoist party. The deal brought the Maoists to mainstream politics.