Nepal’s 74-year-old Law Commission remains sidelined in lawmaking
Summary
Nepal’s Law Commission has drafted dozens of bills on issues ranging from artificial intelligence to land acquisition, but most have stalled or been sidelined by ministries and political disputes. The government is now proposing to put the law minister in charge of the commission, drawing criticism from legal experts and former officials.
Key Points
- The Law Commission says it studied major legal issues last year, prepared five draft bills and submitted 43 drafts since 2015, but most have not become law.
- Only two items in the government’s latest legislative programme are directly linked to Law Commission recommendations, underscoring its limited role in lawmaking.
- Former officials say ministry-drafted bills are often shaped by vested interests, while even commission drafts can stall because of disputes between ministries and shifting government priorities.
- A proposed amendment would make the law minister chair of the commission, a move that has triggered objections from legal experts and former officials.
