Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: A bill to amend and consolidate laws relating to Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal has been submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
The Ministry of Home Affairs presented the bill to the cabinet after obtaining consent from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Public Service Commission.
According to Joint Secretary Bharat Mani Rijal, who heads the Legal Division at the home ministry, the bill will update and amend provisions of the Police Act, 201, implement the Supreme Court decisions regarding police service conditions, and make police services more accountable, gender-sensitive, and professional in accordance with Nepal’s constitution, prevailing laws, democracy, rule of law and human rights.
The bill also seeks to consolidate legal provisions related to the formation, operation, and service conditions of Nepal Police to maintain peace, security, and order through crime prevention and investigation. Similarly, for the APF, the bill proposes amendments to the Armed Police Act, 2001, to update legal provisions, implement Supreme Court decisions on APF service conditions, and make the paramilitary force more professional and effective in border security, disaster management and maintaining law and order.
The bill will be presented to the federal parliament after it is endorsed by the cabinet.
According to Rijal, the 30-year service limit for police personnel will be removed and allow lower-ranking personnel to retire after 16 years of service if the bill is enacted without any changes. “The police organizations will also be inclusive and representative,” he added.
