KATHMANDU, AUGUST 4 A parliamentary committee on Tuesday endorsed a bill to place the National Investigation Department (NID) under the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, rejecting opposition proposals to keep the intelligence agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The House of Representatives' State Affairs and Good Governance Committee passed the bill during clause-by-clause deliberations on the Bill to Revive the Previous Provisions of the Nepal Special Services Act, 2042. Speaking at the meeting, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam said the intelligence agency should function under the Prime Minister's Office rather than the Home Ministry, arguing that its specialised role differs from the routine law enforcement responsibilities handled by the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force. 'The work of the National Investigation Department is specialised and of a higher level,' Gautam said, adding that the Home Ministry is already responsible for regular peace and security, crime investigation and internal security through the country's security agencies. During the discussion, committee members also stressed the need to strengthen the department's professional capacity and provide a legal basis for restructuring it. Lawmakers from the opposition Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and NCP proposed amendments seeking to retain the department under the Home Ministry. However, the committee rejected the proposals and passed the bill by a majority vote. The bill, registered in the House of Representatives on July 29, will now be presented to Parliament for further legislative process. Amendments had been proposed by lawmakers Ganesh Kumar Bishwakarma, Yubaraj Dulal and Sushila Khadka.