Kathmandu, March 26

State Affairs Committee of the Parliament today endorsed its sub-committee’s report on Social Practices Reform Bill that proposes nullification of marriage solemnised after exchange of dowry or property.

The endorsed bill also proposes that the number of guests attending a wedding should not exceed 501 members.

SAC sub-committee member Rameshwar Phuyal said the provision of original bill had proposed 350 members but the subcommittee increased it to 501 members after it got overwhelming feedback from across the country.

“We want to make an enforceable bill and therefore we decided to increase the number of guests in the original bill,” he added. The endorsed bill also proposes that the number of people attending other social functions should not exceed 251 people. The original bill had proposed that people attending other social functions should not exceed 100 people. Phuyal said another key provision of the bill was that it requires families to give details of their wedding expenditures and expenditures of other social functions to the local levels. The bill also intends to slap a fine not exceeding Rs 25,000 on those people who disturb the peace in society and create noise pollution during social functions.

Major provisions

• Proposes nullifying marriage solemnised after exchange of dowry
• Limits the number of guests at wedding to 501
• Limits the number of guests at other social functions to 251
• Requires hosts of social functions to submit expenditure details to local levels
• Proposes a fine of Rs 25, 000 for those disturbing the peace and creating noise