Gyaan Shrinkhala Short Courses on Governance: Gyaan Shrinkhala Bhaag 2

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Gyaan Shrinkhala Short Courses on Governance

Gyaan Shrinkhala Bhaag 2
on 
Citizens and Constitutional Rights –  Implementation Challenges and What This means for “Good Governance”

Date: Monday, July 20, Wednesday, July 22 & Thursday, July 23, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM 
Venue: Martin Chautari, Thapathali Kathmandu
Course Fee: NPR 3,000
Application Deadline: 17th July 2026 
Target Participants: Youth from 18-30 Years 

Apply Now: https://forms.gle/TyYNnVEMjZ8ekfKS9 

Bhaag 2 Course Overview
Building on the momentum of its inaugural course, Gyaan Shrinkhala returns with its second short course (Gyaan Shrinkhala Bhaag 2), continuing its commitment to creating accessible, discussion-driven learning spaces that encourage critical engagement with contemporary governance issues. This edition is organized in collaboration with Law Lab Nepal and brings together constitutional law, governance, and everyday lived realities to explore how rights guaranteed on paper are translated into practice.

The three-day short course, spanning 20, 22, and 23 July, will be jointly conducted by Adv. Dr. Aastha Dahal, Adv. Prajwal Raj Gyawali, and Adv. Samman Humagain.

The objective of the session is to enhance participants' understanding of constitutional rights and build critical perspectives on the implementation challenges and implications for good governance.

The course is designed and delivered in an accessible and relevant way for individuals to enhance their capacity as informed citizens on the topic. Each session will be delivered through critical analysis, discussion, and deliberation on court case studies, including an introduction to the approach taken by the judiciary in enforcing rights. This will give participants practical insights into how the state responds to an individual's need to guarantee a right enshrined in the Constitution. Participants will diagnose the facts and brainstorm how government authorities and civil society can collaborate for effective implementation of Constitutional Rights.

Participants will be provided with relevant reference reading materials and links to videos and podcasts prior to the course. The sessions will be conducted with a mix of Nepali and English.

A brief description of each session is provided below:

Day 1 (20th July, Monday, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Who is a Nepali? Citizenship Rights and Challenges in Court

The session will provide a brief introduction to the Constitution from the perspective of citizenship. Many rights are linked to having a citizenship, but what happens when the state denies an individual one? Through court stories, Law Lab Nepal encourages analyses of the practical challenges faced by stateless individuals struggling for citizenship papers, including their treatment by the Chief District Officers. Participants will be able to understand the value of being a citizen and how state mechanisms can be strengthened in favor of the marginalized sections of society.

Day 2 (22nd July, Wednesday, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Plot Twist in Property and Economic Rights – Why Winning a Court Case Isn't Enough

This session will offer a practical understanding of what the separation of powers actually means and how the duplication of state powers dilutes enforcement of economic rights. This will be done through analysis of two stories: first, an individual who has been trying to start a business on his land but has not been able to secure access to his own property despite court orders in his favor; second, a copyright issue concerning BP Koirala's memoir. Are intellectual property rights economic rights? Participants will analyze the cases and diagnose implementation challenges related to the role of the state and bureaucracy.

Day 3 (23rd July, Thursday, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Getting Cancelled for Speaking Up? Freedom of Speech and the Protection of Whistle Blowers

In this session, participants will examine in detail the role of the media in protecting women speaking up against harassment in institutions in Nepal. The session will look into cases where women have exercised their freedom of speech but have been targeted through SLAPP litigation. It will also discuss the role of media houses, the threats they face for reporting harassment, and the amplification of such stories through social media. Participants will diagnose the role of state mechanisms such as the Women's Commission, Cyber Bureau, and Police authorities to understand the approach taken by the state when individuals seek to be whistle blowers and call out harassment within their institutions.

Instructors: 
Advocate Dr. Aastha Dahal is a lawyer and criminologist with an MPhil and PhD in Criminology from the University of Cambridge. Her work focuses on criminal justice, policing, domestic violence, torture, and sexual violence, alongside extensive experience in policy advising, legislative review, and legal research with the Government of Nepal, international organizations, and Nepal's judicial system.

Advocate Prajwal Raj Gyawali is a graduate in Law and Economics specializing in corporate finance and public finance, with over six years of international experience in corporate transaction law and several years of experience in policy, litigation, and teaching in Nepal. He has worked with ICICI Bank and the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Uganda, advising on financial transactions across infrastructure, healthcare, education, and small and medium-sized enterprises. He is also the host of the Kanoon Yatra podcast in collaboration with Himal Khabar.

Advocate Samman Humagain is a litigation lawyer specializing in commercial and civil litigation. Alongside his legal practice, he is actively engaged in legal research, policy advocacy, arbitration, and legal publications. He has a particular interest in Nepal's legal history and works to document and preserve the country's legal heritage through archival and research initiatives.