KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 4

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today told the National Assembly that the Cabinet would adopt a new federal civil service bill tomorrow and soon register it in the Parliament.

Speaking at the National Assembly today, PM Dahal said despite the delay, the government would soon adopt and register the bill in the Parliament.

Responding to lawmakers' queries, the PM said that 191 Acts, including amendments had been enacted after the constitution was promulgated in 2015. The government had also enacted new laws to enforce fundamental rights, including housing rights, food security and food sovereignty rights. The PM said 15 bills that had been registered in the Parliament were in the process of being enacted into law.

The PM said the government would soon adopt the federal civil service bill and school education bill and register them in the Parliament.

He added that some bills relating to the concurrent lists of the constitution and development were in the process of being finalised. The government is also doing ground work to reintroduce some bills rendered ineffective due to prorogation of the previous session of the Parliament.

The PM said the citizenship act (amendment) bill that became a law recently had paved the way to enjoy citizenship rights. The PM said the government would soon introduce a bill in the Parliament to ensure free legal aid for service seekers and added that the civil and criminal code had ensured compensation for crime victims and if those provisions were not enough, the government would introduce a fresh bill after discussing the issues with stakeholders.

The PM said the government would also resolve complications seen in police adjustment.

Earlier, NA Chair Ganesh Prasad Timilsina had directed the government to effectively implement federalism and expedite laws related to implementation of the constitution.

Lawmaker Anita Devkota said the government adjusted government employees without giving employees option to choose from the three tiers of government. She said government employees were adjusted in accordance with Employee Adjustment Act, but the new federal civil service bill which had to be brought before the employees' adjustment had still not been enacted.

She said unless the government enacts required laws, people would not be able to enjoy their rights. Despite the constitutional guarantee, landless Dalits have not been able to get land to avail housing rights, she added.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 05, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.