National
‘Faulty provisions will be changed’
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government is ready to amend the Civil and Criminal Codes that came into effect on Friday if there are shortcomings, following protests over some provisions in the new laws.Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government is ready to amend the Civil and Criminal Codes that came into effect on Friday if there are shortcomings, following protests over some provisions in the new laws.
Journalists and legal analysts have expressed concerns over the provisions claiming that they could be misused to restrain democratic rights, including the free press.
The codes replace the General Code—better known as the Muluki Ain implemented by first Rana prime minister Jung Bahadur—to guide civil and legal proceedings.
“Nobody needs to fear the codes,” Oli said at a function organised to mark the first day of implementation of the laws. “This is for us to establish a system. The government is ready to amend any faulty provisions.”
Oli said there is always room for amendment and correction if public sentiments are hurt and if someone’s rights are infringed upon.
The new laws say listening to or recording a conversation between two or more people or photographing any individual without consent is a criminal offence. Violators of these offences are subjected to fine up to Rs10,000 or one year behind the bars or both.
Nepal Police has also demanded revision to some of the provisions. In a dissent filed to the Law Ministry,
the force has objected to the need for a warrant from the authority to arrest a suspect and the provision of filing complaints online.