KATHMANDU, MAY 28

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has granted amnesty to 834 convicts doing time in various prisons across the country to mark Republic Day.

A press statement issued by the Office of the President stated that the amnesty would be effective beginning tomorrow. The prisoners are getting amnesty in accordance with the Senior Citizens Act, 2006, Criminal Code Act, 2017, Criminal Offences (Punishment Determination and Implementation) Act, 2017, Children's Act, 2018, National Criminal Procedure (Code) Act, 2017, and the Supreme Court mandamus order of 3 August 2020, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.

The convicts were also relieved of fine and principal amount to be paid to the state for the crimes they committed, in addition to the jail sentence handed down to them by various courts. Nepal has a tradition of granting amnesty to eligible prisoners to mark major festivals such as Dashain, Tihar, Republic Day, National Democracy Day and Constitution Day. The government may recommend to the president to waive off the remaining 60 per cent jail term for prisoners, who have been convicted of small-time crimes and have already served at least 40 per cent of the sentence, provided that they demonstrate good conduct in the prisons.

Similarly, up to 75 per cent of the remaining term of jailbirds, who are above 65 years and have demonstrated good conduct, shall be commuted.

However, those convicted of heinous crimes, including kidnapping and hostage-taking, rape, child molestation, human trafficking, murder, jailbreak, money laundering, offence against the state, war crime, corruption, smuggling of drugs and wildlife body parts are not entitled to presidential amnesty in accordance with the existing laws.

Recently, the Department of Prison Management had forwarded a list of convicts deemed eligible for amnesty to the Ministry of Home Affairs, on the recommendation of the concerned jailers.

Upon receiving the list, the MoHA had forwarded it to the Cabinet before seeking presidential approval.

A version of this article appears in the print on May 29, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.