Government Accelerates Legal Reforms, Revenue Investigation Department to be Abolished

Kathmandu. Finance Secretary Ghanashyam Upadhyay has stated that the government is rapidly advancing legal reforms. 

Speaking at the meeting of the Finance Committee under the House of Representatives held on Tuesday, he informed that under the leadership of the current Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, the Ministry of Finance has initiated the process of abolishing 15 irrelevant and outdated laws through its first decision.

Secretary Upadhyay clarified that the process of abolishing the Revenue Investigation Department, which the private sector and business community have long felt uncomfortable with due to its complex and overlapping jurisdiction, has also been formally initiated. He stated that with the abolition of the department, its functions will be transferred to other relevant bodies, and the necessary legal and administrative preparations are underway.

Currently, the responsibilities handled by the Revenue Investigation Department are being managed by the Department of Revenue, the Department of Customs, and the Department of Anti-Money Laundering, and Secretary Upadhyay said that the work will be restructured to make these bodies more effective. He claimed that the government is advancing reforms to clarify responsibilities and enhance institutional efficiency, as the same type of work being done by various bodies has led to administrative duplication, delays in decision-making, and unnecessary pressure on the business environment.

In the meeting, Finance Secretary Upadhyay said, 'Through the first decision of the current Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, 15 irrelevant laws have been moved to the abolition process. The process of abolishing the Revenue Investigation Department, which the business community has felt uncomfortable with, has begun. With the abolition of the law related to the Revenue Investigation Department, its functions are being transferred to other departments. The functions of the Revenue Investigation Department are being carried out by the Department of Revenue and the Department of Customs, and the Department of Anti-Money Laundering. Legal reform work is underway to have the functions of the Revenue Investigation Department carried out by other bodies.'

He mentioned that the government has prioritized creating an investment-friendly environment, enhancing private sector confidence, and expanding economic activities through legal reforms. He stated that reform programs have been implemented with the goal of making the administrative structure smaller but more effective, removing unnecessary bodies, and making service delivery faster and easier.