Kathmandu, December 14

The government today registered two election related bills Bill on Local Level Elections and Bill to Amend and Integrate Prevailing Law on Election Offences and Punishment at the Legislature Parliament Secretariat, proposing an increase in punishment for poll related offences.

Three election related bills Bill to Amend and Integrate Laws related to Functions, Duties and Powers of Election Commission, Bill to Amend and Integrate Laws related to Voters’ List and Bill to Amend and Integrate Laws related to Political Parties are already under consideration after the government tabled them in the Parliament on October 4.

The government is yet to introduce three other election bills related to state assembly, national assembly and House of Representatives. It is working on them, according to Secretary of Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Tek Prasad Dhungana.

As the newly introduced local level election bill is meant for to-be-restructured local bodies, it will not apply if the government decided to go for civic polls under existing structure of the local bodies, Dhungana said.

The Local Bodies Restructuring Commission has not yet submitted its report to the government, as some Madhes-based parties have opposed it, and the three major parties have agreed to hold civic polls under existing structure of local bodies.

“If the government decides to go for civic polls under existing structure, it should bring new bill to amend the Local Bodies Election Procedure Act and the Parliament should pass the Bill to Amend Local Self-Governance Act that is under consideration at the Development Committee of the Parliament,” said Dhungana.

The proposed election offence and punishment bill has criminalised more activities that hinder elections and it has increased punishment up to three years of jail term and Rs 2 lakh fine for poll offenders, Dhungana said.

Proposals in nutshell

Some publicity related acts, including using posters, wall-paintings, banners and digital display will be prohibited during elections

If any government employee is found guilty of poll offence in course of election, the Election Commission can write to the concerned government body for departmental action

Lucky draw system will be used if two or more candidates secure equal number of votes

The government reserves the power to announce the poll dates and the civic polls can be held in two or more phases. However, polls of one province should be held in single phase

A candidate will be deemed ineligible if convicted of criminal offence by final court of law in cases related to corruption, rape, human trafficking, drug smuggling, money laundering, misuse of passport, kidnapping and other criminal offences involving moral turpitude

The candidate will be deemed ineligible if convicted of murder, any offence related to caste discrimination and untouchability or is black listed under prevailing laws

An election officer can cancel election of certain booth if anyone takes it under control in an unauthorised manner