The UCPN (Maoist) and its breakaway factions have demanded that the conflict-era cases be dealt with by transitional justice bodies.

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya, CPN-Maoist Chairman Matrika Yadav and Naya Shakti member Hisila Yami on Friday met Prime Minister KP Oli to voice their concerns about the recent court verdict on conflict-era cases. The leaders argued that it was against the Comprehensive Peace Accord to deal with conflict-era cases under the regular court.

The then rebel CPN (Maoist) and the government had agreed to set up

Truth and Reconciliation Commission to look into conflict-era cases, which was realised nine year after the deal.

However, the transitional justice bodies are yet to start their assigned tasks due to the delay in developing infrastructure and legal framework. Former rebel Maoist parties are unhappy with a recent court verdict, which reopened the case against former Constituent Assembly member Keshav Rai. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court quashed two petitions, which had stayed Okhaldhunga District Court order to arrest and prosecute Rai and dozen other Maoist cadres.

The Maoists argue that the conflict-era cases were political, while rights lawyers argue that the court is a component of transitional justice to establish criminal accountability.

A 70-day summons was issued against Rai and other Maoist cadres in 2010. They had moved the apex court, stating the murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the transitional justice bodies as envisaged by the CPA. However, the apex court on April 2014 has issued a verdict stating that the victims has right to choose which justice system they prefer to go.