Kathmandu, November 6:

The Home Ministry today formed a four-member committee headed by the Ministry’s joint-secretary to find out whether magisterial authorities should be given to the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police (KMP).

According to the spokesperson of Nepal Police, SSP Kiran Gautam, the committee comprises the joint-secretary of the Peace and Security section of the Ministry, a joint-secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Deputy Inspector Generals of Police from the Administration and Operation Departments at the Police Headquarters.

“The committee will study laws to be exercised by the civil administration and what constitution and other laws tell about the authorities to be entertained by the civil administration,” Gautam said, adding that the committee would finally suggest the government, in a report, what and how much rights can be given to the KMP.

The police headquarters has sought a number of magisterial authorities for the KMP, including the authority to impose curfew, fix places for rallies, sit-ins and public gatherings or to ban them, authority related to the registration of the press and issue licences to produce

films or censor them, authority to issue driving licences, authority to issue licences for commercial dealings in poison and explosives, right to investigate immigration-related crimes and authority to issue weapons’ licences.