Municipal police bylaw enacted

Kathmandu, October 4

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has enacted the Municipal Police Bylaw, 2015, exercising the powers conferred by Section 265 of the Local Self-Governance Act and Rule 275 of Local-Self Governance Rules, 1999.

As per the new law, vacancies for municipal police inspector, assistant sub-inspector, constable and parichar (helper) will be filled mainly through open competition, while the posts of superintendent, deputy superintendent, sub-inspector and head constable will be filled through internal promotion.

The KMC will exercise the power to appoint municipal police personnel on the recommendation of the Vacancy Fulfillment Committee.

Section 10 of the bylaw states that 75 per cent of the vacant posts for inspectors and 50 vacant posts for ASIs will be filled through open competition. The post of constables and parichars will be filled through open competition only.

“With a view to making the Municipal Police more inclusive, 45 per cent of the vacant posts will be reserved for women, indigenous nationalities, Dalits, and Madhes and backward regions. Of the 45 percent vacant posts, 20 percent will be allocated to women, 32 percent to indigenous nationalities, 15 percent to Dalits, 28 percent to Madhes and 5 percent to backward regions.

For the purpose of this provision, Achham, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Jumla, Dolpa, Bajhang, Mugu and Humla districts have been designated backward regions.

The bylaw has prescribed 29 different functions, duties and powers of the Municipal Police. They have been tasked with removing obstruction on footpaths and roads, preventing encroachment of public places, issuing order to demolish structures constructed in contravention of the prescribed standards, catching and auctioning stray cattle, stopping sale and distribution of food items unfit for human consumption, controlling social malpractices and protecting the assets of the KMC, among other things.