KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 16

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has suggested that the Ministry of Home Affairs make the promotion process of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force predictive by adopting necessary measures.

According to the 32nd annual report (2021-22) of the CIAA, it is the need of the hour for the MoHA to ensure predictability in the promotion of security personnel by making the provisions related to it more objective and realistic. This suggestion follows the frequent controversy over the promotion of office-level security personnel. The anti-graft body has also urged the MoHA to mobilise the welfare fund of security bodies as per the interest of their employees. The welfare fund established with the objective of providing facilities to police personnel has proved to be profit-oriented. Similarly, the CIAA has urged the MoHA to strengthen internal control system of Nepal Police as plainclothes cops deployed for intelligence gathering and security personnel deputed to customs points were found to be involved in corruption.

As per the CIAA, it is critical for the MoHA to incorporate the subjects of ethics, morality and honesty in basic training programme for police personnel so that they are not lured into bribery. The MoHA has also been told to develop necessary norms that would help security bodies under the MoHA to pursue policy and procedural reforms to boost professionalism, investigative efficiency and morale of police personnel.

Furthermore, the CIAA suggested that MoHA distribute National ID Card to citizens in a simple, easy and speedy manner, control the smuggling of goods via international border effectively, install hi-tech equipment at the customs points, make the performance of immigration officials transparent, control irregularities in immigration system of Tribhuvan International Airport, and make the provision for vehicle scanners in Thankot and other entry points of Kathmandu valley.

A version of this article appears in the print on October 17, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.A version of this article appears in the print on October 17, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.