Government Issues Ordinances for Public Welfare, Says Law Minister

Kathmandu. Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovita Gautam has clarified that the government has issued some ordinances to work at a rapid pace for public welfare.  

Issuing a video on social media Facebook on Sunday morning, she made public the government's stance amidst the ongoing debates for and against the ordinances.

Minister Gautam said that the government itself is bound by rules in the rule of law and that the government will work within the framework of laws made by the legislature (parliament). "Nepal's constitution envisions a three-tiered structure of federal, provincial, and local levels," she said, "The federal parliament is bicameral, comprising the House of Representatives and the National Assembly."

Informing about the general process of lawmaking, she stated that a bill prepared by the government becomes an 'Act' only after it is passed by both houses of parliament and authenticated by the President. However, she mentioned that there is a constitutional provision to bring an ordinance under Article 114 of the constitution if something needs to be done immediately when the parliament is not in session.

According to Minister Gautam, the government was facing difficulties in its work due to the lack of or ambiguity in laws in some areas. "Even if we follow the general process of passing a bill from parliament, it can take at least three to four months even on a fast track," she said, "The government wants to address public issues at a rapid and effective pace, hence ordinances have been resorted to remove legal obstacles."

She claimed that although criticism is natural due to the misuse of ordinances in the past, the context this time is different. "The current government has nearly a two-thirds majority in parliament. Therefore, there is no situation where anything needs to be hidden or done stealthily behind the scenes," Minister Gautam said, "This ordinance is not brought for any ulterior motive; it is only for working faster and making the government effective."

She informed that all the issued ordinances will be presented in the parliament within 60 days of the start of the session, and if the parliament does not pass them, they will be automatically repealed. She also expressed commitment that all actions taken by the government will be transparent and in the public interest.