12 ordinances become void; no act recognizes COVID Unified Hospital

KATHMANDU: COVID Unified Hospital being operated at the building of Bir Hospital in the capital as per an ordinance issued by the KP Oli government will not be recognized by any law. 

The hospital’s legitimacy is now under question as  the Crisis Management Ordinance-2021 has become void. The ordinance was not even tabled before parliament. 

The ordinance was published in the Nepal Gazette on May 20. According to the constitutional provision, it was to be tabled before parliament within 60 days of the commencement of the House session. The lower House --- House of Representatives (HoR)--- was reinstated on July 12 through the mandamus of Supreme Court. The House was dissolved on May 22. 

However, the ordinance was not tabled before the House meeting though the House session began on July 18. 

These ordinances too became void 

Not only COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance-2021, but eleven other ordinances issued by Sher Bahadur Deuba’s predecessor government also became void. 

Medicine (Third Amendment) Ordinance-2021 was issued to produce a vaccine against COVID-19. Legal experts say that the process of vaccine procurement may be under question following the void of this ordinance. 

These ordinances became void: 

1. Railway Ordinance 

2. Ordinance related to Oath 

3. COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance 

4. Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties and Procedure) 

5. Citizenship Ordinance 

6. Ordinance relating to Security of Health Personnel and Health Institutions 

7. Ordinance amending acts against Sexual Violence 

8. Medicine Ordinance 

9. Social Security Ordinance 

10. Ordinance on Nepal Police and Province Police (Work Operation, Supervision, and Coordination)

11. Acid and Other Hazardous Chemical Substances (Regulation) Ordinance

12. Ordinance on Amendment of Some Nepal Acts Related to Criminal Offence and Criminal Procedure