Lekhak urges urgent reforms in immigration system

KATHMANDU: Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak has instructed officials to immediately implement necessary reforms in the immigration system.

Speaking at an internal meeting on Monday, he directed senior officials to follow clear standards and procedures while deploying immigration staff.

According to the Ministry’s spokesperson Ram Chandra Tiwari, Minister Lekhak warned officials that any misconduct at the Tribhuvan International Airport Immigration Office would result in strong action against the personnel involved. “If anyone is found to have left the country through irregular means, the employees on duty at the time will be held accountable,” Tiwari quoted the minister as saying.

Minister Lekhak also stressed the need to implement recommendations from past reports related to immigration reform.

Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi and other high-ranking officials, including department and division heads under the ministry, attended the meeting.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is currently probing allegations that immigration officers have been accepting kickbacks to allow Nepalis with visit visas to depart for various labour destinations.