INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, September 17
The National Assembly today unanimously endorsed the Passport Bill, which was sent back by President Bidhya Devi
Bhandari for revision.
Though there was no clear statement or direction from the President office to revise particular provisions in the
bill, there was concern regarding a provision which stated that the government bodies could issue order asking concerned authorities not to
issue passport for a citizen, for no reasonable ground.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali adresses the meeting of National
Assembly in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, on Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Photo: Screenshot of National Assembly live broadcast/Youtube
According to a NA source, President Bhandari was against the provision that
allowed government authorities not to issue passport for Nepali citizens without any legal grounds
So, the bill was sent back to the NA for its reconsideration
The NA amended the bill as per the sentiment of President Bhandari.
The amendment proposal endorsed by the NA stated that concerned
authority could deny passport to Nepali citizens only on reasonable grounds
&The citizen in question is entitled to know the reason why he or she was denied passport,& the bill stated.
The bill amended by the
National Assembly, however, gave government the power to suspend, revoke or deny passport to a citizen, when investigation of a case filed
against him or her, under immigration, corruption, money laundering, human trafficking, narcotics drugs and illegal arms law, was
underway.
Section 12 of the bill, which was passed by the HoR and sent back by the president on this provision stated, &The passport issuing
authority shall deny passport to those against whom the Government of Nepal or a court of law has issued order telling the government
authorities not to issue passport for them.& Section 12 of the bill, which was endorsed by the NA today stipulated that the government could
deny passport to a person, if a case of the person in question for defaulting loan was sub-judice.
As per the provision in the bill, such
restriction also applied to those who faced cases under laws that deal with crimes of human trafficking, abduction, narcotic drugs,
organised crime, and terrorism
Restriction also applied to those persons against whom concerned bodies wrote to the passport issuing authorities, saying that the persons
in question were indulged in acts detrimental to Nepal sovereignty, integrity and unity, according to the amended bill.
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endorses Passport Bill appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
