Nepal has slipped three ranks in the Rule of Law Index-2015 prepared by the World Justice Project but is still ahead of all other South Asian countries that figure in the study, including India. Nepal, which ranked 45th in last year’s Rule of Law Index, slipped to 48th position in the new index. India, which ranked 35th in last year’s index, slipped to 59th rank this year, while China is ranked 17th. Sri Lanka ranks 58th, Bangladesh 93rd, and Afghanistan 101st. Bhutan and Maldives were not included in the list. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Austria, Germany, Singapore, and Australia occupy the top 10 global ranks, in that order. The United Kingdom ranks 12th and the USA is in 19th position.

The index measures the rule of law based on the experiences and perceptions of the general public and experts from across the world. WJP conducted the research by surveying 102 countries. WJP, based in Washington DC, is an independent, multidisciplinary organization working to advance the rule of law around the world. This survey has been prepared after collecting information from more than 100,000 households and expert surveys in 102 countries and jurisdictions, states the index report. “Although we may not be aware of it, the rule of law is profoundly important, not just to lawyers or judges. It is the foundation of a system of rules to keep us safe, resolve disputes, and enable us to prosper. In fact, every sector of society is a stakeholder in the rule of law,” states the WJP report. According to WJP, the rule of law is a system that ensures four universal principles — accountability, even the application of the law, protection of fundamental rights, and access to justice.