Nepali Parliament passes transitional justice bill

Kathmandu: The House of Representatives has passed the bill concerning transitional justice, known as the “Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth, and Reconciliation Commission (Third Amendment) Act.”

The bill, presented by Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, amends the existing 2071 Act. The legislation will now move to the National Assembly for consideration.

If approved by the National Assembly, it will return to the House of Representatives for final approval and then be sent to the President for ratification. Once signed by the President, the bill will become law.

The bill was first registered with the House of Representatives on February 25, 2079. Prior to its passage, the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee facilitated an agreement among the top leaders of the three main political parties—Congress, UML, and Maoist Center—on the bill’s contentious issues. The committee presented the bill to the House of Representatives yesterday, and it was passed today.

During today’s House session, lawmakers expressed their views on the bill along party lines before it was put to a vote. Most members, except for Press Suwal from the NEMKIP party, supported the bill.