KATHMANDU, Nov 25: Two separate bills to amend and consolidate the acts governing Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force have been submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Sunday. The bills aim to amend the nearly 70 year-old Police Act (2012 BS) and the two decades old Armed Police Act (2058) regulating the service conditions of security personnel and aligning the two agencies with the Constitution, human rights standards, and democratic values.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, after receiving approvals from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Public Service Commission, submitted both bills to the Council of Ministers for approval. Bharat Mani Rijal, Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry's Law Division, said that the bills intended to modernize and strengthen both police forces, making them more accountable, gender-sensitive, and professional. The bills also seek to implement the Supreme Court judgments concerning police personnel's service conditions.
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The proposed bills outline provisions for the formation, operation, and service conditions of both the Nepal Police and Armed Police Service, with a focus on enhancing public peace, crime prevention, border security, disaster management, and maintaining law and order.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has prioritized the passage of the twin bills in the upcoming winter session of the Federal Parliament. Key changes include the abolition of the 30-year service period for police personnel, allowing lower ranks to retire after 16 years of service, and making the police organizations more inclusive and nationally representative.
The bill is expected to provide a modernized framework for both the forces, addressing the need for specialization, better welfare for police personnel, and more effective operations. Once passed, the bill will replace the existing Acts and significantly enhance the functionality of both organizations.
