KATHMANDU: Transparency International Nepal has said that the provision recommended by the House of Representatives and National Assembly Business Rules Drafting Committee saying that lawmakers accused of crime, carrying jail term of three years or more, or in judicial custody would not face suspension from the parliament, has drawn its attention.

"It's a faulty provision," Transparency International Nepal said in a press statement today.

However, in earlier provision of House of Representatives Business Rules, lawmakers accused of crime or carrying jail term of three years or more and sent to judicial custody would have been suspended, until the final verdict, by the House of Speaker.

"Failure to implement same provision in all criminal cases is the biggest setback of the Parliament," reads the statement.

As per the Prevention of Corruption Act 2002, any government officials charged with corruption is automatically suspended until final verdicts. However, the revised draft and provision in the act seems contradictory, as mentioned in the statement.

Criminal activities will mushroom in political sphere if rules in the provisions do not automatically suspend lawmakers accused of crime. The rampant rise in corruption is due to criminalisation in politics, as mentioned in the statement.

Meanwhile, the TIN has requested to rectify such rules prescribed in the provision which would prevent lawmakers accused of crime from facing suspension in the federal parliament.

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• Lawmakers accused of crime won’t face suspension