Gandaki Province prepares Police Act draft; Far-western Province awaits centre’s decision
After Province 2, the government in Gandaki Province has drafted its Provincial Police Act. According to Gandaki Province Internal Affairs and Law Minister Hari Bahadur Chuman, the draft will be presented at the Province Assembly as soon as the central government floats an umbrella law in this regard.
“Though the federal government has lately sent us an interim order on formation of the provincial police, we have prepared the draft. We are now waiting for the centre to formulate the required law and send it to us soon,” said Minister Chuman. “As the lack of a Police Act has affected peace and security in the province, we need it as soon as possible,” he added. Besides, Gandaki Province is also preparing to bring its own Local Administration Act. “The proposed act envisions bringing some of the powers, except the power to recommend for citizenship and passport, exercised by the chief district officers, under the jurisdiction of the province,” he said. Similarly, the province has also started homework on setting up a police training centre.
The Far-west Province, on the other hand, has opted to bide its time. “Though we had been given the nod by a meeting of the province’s Council of Ministers in August to write our Police Act, the process has not started because we must move ahead as per the federal government’ which it has not drafted a law,” said Under-secretary Birendra Bahadur KC at the Internal Affairs and Law Ministry.
Earlier, Province 2 Assembly had endorsed its police act well before the centre could come up with an umbrella law. This had given rise to controversy.
As per the constitution, the province can have its own police force. But, as the federal government is yet to come up with the police act even eight months after formation of the provincial government, the provision of provincial police has yet to be implemented.
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