Author: space4knews

Rastriya Swatantra Samajbadi Party (Raswapa) Chairman Ravi Lamichhane proposed opening Singha Durbar to everyone in Jestha 2081 (May-June 2024). However, the government led by Prime Minister Balen Shah has tightened entry regulations, barring access for journalists and legal professionals. Both the Nepal Bar Association and the Federation of Nepali Journalists have expressed opposition to these restrictions and are calling for easier access. (25 Chaitra, Kathmandu)

When he was Home Minister, Ravi Lamichhane had put forward a proposal to open Singha Durbar to all. He stated, “No one should need acquaintance to enter Singha Durbar. The practice of granting passes only to those known or allowing entry only through personal contacts is being ended.” Despite the announcement made in Jestha 2081, the policy has not been implemented and instances of blocking easy access using various excuses have been observed.

On Wednesday, CPN-UML lawmaker Suhang Nembang visited the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to voice dissatisfaction with the new entry regulations at Singha Durbar. He demanded the removal of restrictions imposed on legal professionals’ access. On Tuesday, the Administrative Court ordered that legal professionals must obtain permission via a citizen app before entry. Previously, they could enter by presenting identity cards issued by the Nepal Bar Council and Nepal Bar Association.

The Nepal Bar Association issued a statement opposing these measures. In a release by General Secretary Kedar Prasad Koirala, it was stated, “The Bar Association has repeatedly verbally alerted concerned authorities about recent obstructions to legal professionals’ access to the Administrative Court within the Singha Durbar premises, but no action has been taken.” Meanwhile, Federation of Nepali Journalists President Nirmala Sharma criticized the government for denying journalists entry, calling it a violation of the constitutionally guaranteed democratic right and the public’s right to information.

Spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Hemraj Aryal, asserted, “Pass arrangements have been made for entry to the Prime Minister’s Office; this is not a matter of strictness.” Raswapa Co-spokesperson Ramesh Prasain stated there is no policy of denying access or withholding information. The Nepal Bar demands unfettered access to Singha Durbar for legal professionals based on their identity cards.

President Sharma emphasized that Singha Durbar should be open not only to journalists but to all citizens. In 2016 (2073 BS), the National Information Commission directed public bodies within Singha Durbar to facilitate straightforward and easy access to information for citizens, in accordance with the constitution and law.

The Communist Party of Nepal (UML) has stated that due to their chairman, KP Sharma Oli, being in police custody, discussions on the constitution amendment agenda could not proceed. At a meeting of the committee formed under the leadership of Asim Shah, Dr. Bhishma Adhikari, a UML central member, expressed that the agenda would only be prepared after the chairman’s release. Adhikari argued that the topic of constitutional amendment cannot be left open-ended; it requires thorough discussions and consensus among all parties. March 25, Kathmandu.

The UML clarified that as their party chairman KP Sharma Oli remains in police custody, discussions on the constitution amendment agenda have stalled. During the committee meeting chaired by Asim Shah—established to prepare proposals for debating constitutional amendments—the UML representative responded accordingly. “Our party chairman has been kept in police custody. As long as he remains detained, no discussions on constitutional amendments are taking place,” said central member Dr. Bhishma Adhikari at the meeting. “Once he is released, we will convene meetings and prepare the agenda; currently, we cannot comment further.”

While indicating that the party will make decisions regarding the concrete agenda for constitutional amendments, Adhikari clarified that they do not oppose the constitution. “The issue of constitution amendment cannot merely be kept open; it must involve discussions with all parties and obtaining consensus,” he stated. He emphasized that any constitutional amendment should proceed only after intensive consultations with provincial and local governments, experts, and stakeholders.

March 25, Kathmandu – The Constitution Amendment Discussion Committee, formed under the leadership of political advisor Asim Shah by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, has commenced its deliberations. The committee began discussions by summoning representatives from parties represented in the House of Representatives and National Assembly to the Prime Minister’s Office at Singha Durbar.

“Since it was the first day, today’s session was more of an introductory meeting,” said Mohanlal Acharya, leader of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who participated in the meeting on behalf of his party. At this initial meeting, committee coordinator Shah outlined the mandate to prepare the constitution amendment discussion paper within 60 days. “A discussion paper should be prepared within 7 days, followed by consultations leading to completion of the work within 60 days,” he explained.

Following this, detailed information was provided concerning the amendable and non-amendable provisions of the constitution. Legal Secretary Pushkar Sapkota from the Prime Minister’s Office and Secretary Indira Dahal from the Ministry of Law delivered briefings. Subsequently, party representatives shared their respective views.

RSP leader Acharya emphasized that the constitution amendment debate aligns with his party’s manifesto and expressed support for the committee’s work. “The committee should establish necessary subcommittees and consult all stakeholders,” he added.

Dr. Bhishma Adhikari, representing the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), stated that although there is no disagreement over the proposal to amend the constitution, complications have arisen due to the party’s chairman being held in police custody. “Our party chairman is currently in police custody, so no discussions on constitutional amendments have taken place yet,” he said. “Once he is released, meetings will be held and we will prepare the agenda. For now, I cannot comment further.” He also recommended sufficient dialogue given the complexity of the subject. “The issue of constitutional amendment should not be handled in a closed manner; it requires discussion with all parties and consensus,” he stressed.

Dev Gurung of the Nepal Communist Party affirmed his party’s commitment to support constitutional amendments but highlighted the importance of making them acceptable to all. “He spoke extensively about procedural matters and stated that there is no disagreement on the constitution amendment,” sources from the meeting revealed.

Representatives from the Labour Culture Party, Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), Loktantrik Socialist Party (LSP), and Rastriya Janamorcha presented their respective agendas for constitutional amendments. “They submitted agendas that their parties intend to advance during the amendment process,” meeting sources said.

Labour Culture Party lawmaker Dhurvraj Rai called for serious discussions on controlling corruption, developing soil-friendly national policies, and national identity. “Measures to eliminate corruption must be clearly specified,” he insisted. “Attention should be given to formulating soil-appropriate policies.”

RPP’s Gyanendra Shahi raised issues concerning establishing a Hindu state and the monarchy. “He brought up the topics of a Hindu state and monarchy,” according to sources.

Representatives from Madhesi parties recalled their longstanding disagreement with the current constitution. JSP’s Surendra Kumar Jha and LSP’s Abhas Lal expressed opposition to the constitution since its promulgation. Rastriya Janamorcha’s Durga Paudel also raised the issue of abolishing federalism. Paudel’s demand to dissolve provinces received support from RPP’s Shahi. “They agreed that constitutional amendments should be made to abolish the provinces,” meeting participants confirmed.

No representatives from the Nepali Congress attended the discussion. Party leaders explained that delays in selecting representatives caused Congress’s absence at the meeting.

Six individuals have been arrested for unauthorized access and manipulation of contract details in the government’s online project management system. Those arrested include Divakar Deuja, Bharat Dhami, Sanjay Bhatt, Bhaskar Raj Aryal, Sagar Kutuwal, and Jeevan Kumar Das. A joint team from the Police Headquarters, Cyber Bureau, and Central Investigation Bureau apprehended them and is investigating under the Organized Crime Control Act, 2070 BS. The incident was reported on Chaitra 25 in Kathmandu.

According to the police, the six suspects manipulated data on various project contracts by gaining unauthorized access to the online procurement monitoring office’s system. The arrests were made based on complaints regarding tampering with contract information. The joint task force of the Police Headquarters, Cyber Bureau, and Central Investigation Bureau conducted the arrests and the investigation is ongoing under the Organized Crime Control Act, 2070 BS, as informed by police sources.

The government appointed Kiran Pandit as the Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank on Tuesday. The central bank’s structure allows for two deputy governors, but currently only one position is vacant. Pandit has nearly 20 years of experience at the central bank, having worked in the Bank Supervision and Foreign Exchange departments.

Kathmandu, 25 Chaitra. On Tuesday, the government appointed Kiran Pandit as a Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank. Although the central bank has provisions for two deputy governors, the government has filled only one position, leaving the other vacant. Of the 18 executive directors at the central bank, two are usually promoted to deputy governors, but for now only one appointment has been made.

According to sources from the Ministry of Finance, Pandit was selected as a capable and competitive candidate without political bias. The position had remained vacant as former Governor Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada’s administration chose not to appoint Rabindra Pandey as deputy governor. Since then, it has been customary to appoint both deputy governors simultaneously.

The source stated, “The mistake made by former Governor Khatiwada has been corrected. For the immediate gap, only one deputy governor has been appointed.” Traditionally, when one deputy governor is appointed, the other is appointed some time later.

The source also added, “To ensure smooth operations in the event the governor is on leave or absent, the first deputy governor was appointed. The second deputy governor will be appointed within the next one to three months. This appointment will be chosen among qualified and competitive candidates recommended by the executive directors.”

Currently, many executive directors aspire to become deputy governors. Time and performance will ultimately determine who assumes the second deputy governor role. Despite holding a two-thirds majority, the government does not have immediate plans to replace those appointed to regulatory positions, according to sources.

The central bank is preparing to wait for current directors before appointing the second deputy governor. It is expected that some will first become executive directors and then progress to deputy governors in due course.

Newly appointed Deputy Governor Pandit has worked at Nepal Rastra Bank for almost two decades. He has gained experience in bank supervision, financial institution regulation, payment systems, and the foreign exchange department. After becoming an executive director on 20 Falgun 2081, he led the Payment Systems Department and was transferred to the Foreign Exchange Management Department last Kartik.

During his tenure as director, he was honored as an outstanding employee during the 69th anniversary of Nepal Rastra Bank. Pandit completed his Bachelor of Business Studies from Public Youth Campus, where he was among the top performers in his batch at Tribhuvan University. He also holds a master’s degree in sociology from Tri-Chandra Campus.

Chaitra 25, Syangja — A fugitive convicted in a nearly three-decade-old murder case has been apprehended after 29 years on the run. The police arrested 63-year-old Hem Bahadur KC (Jogi) from Bhirakot Municipality-2 on Wednesday, following his prolonged evasion of law enforcement.

According to the police, the murder occurred on Kartik 3, 2053 BS (mid-1996) in the Siddhartha Highway area of the former Waling VDC-3, involving the killing of Ranbahadur Saru from the same VDC’s ward 6. The case reached the Supreme Court, which sentenced KC to 19 years, 7 months, and 21 days in prison. Ever since, he remained at large.

The Syangja District Police Office arrested KC from Bhartan, Luwadand of Bhirakot-2 based on specific information. Following his arrest, he was presented before the Syangja District Court on the same day and subsequently sent to the district prison, informed DSP Prasannraj Chaudhary, the Public Relations Officer of the Syangja District Police Office.

Police investigation confirmed that KC had altered his identity, including acquiring a citizenship certificate under a different surname, in an attempt to avoid imprisonment.

A five-year-old boy named Viyans died after an electric shock in Ishwarpur Municipality–12, Gharibathan, Sarlahi. The child sustained serious injuries from the shock and was declared dead during treatment at Ishwarpur Municipal Hospital. The police have stated that further investigation is ongoing. Date: Chaitra 25, Sarlahi.

The incident occurred in Gharibathan, Ishwarpur Municipality–12, Sarlahi, where a child died due to an electric shock. Around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Ramchandra Khadka was installing a motor connected to a canal to irrigate his own field when Viyans, the 5-year-old son of Ram Bailkoti who was playing nearby, came into contact with electricity. DSP Saroj Rai, spokesperson for the District Police Office Sarlahi, provided this information. The child was seriously injured and taken to Ishwarpur Municipal Hospital in Bayalbas for treatment, but was declared dead by doctors around 12 noon. The police have confirmed that further inquiry into the incident is underway.