PM affirms govt’s commitment to improve laws to keep up with time

Kathmandu, Aug. 18

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' said on Friday that the Civil Codes 2074 issued in 2017 are the priceless documents of epoch-making political, social and legal transformation of Nepal.

"These codes have been brought by a long discussion and the cooperation of all parties and the unanimous consent of the Parliament, just like when the Constitution of Nepal was made," he said while speaking at a programme organised to mark the Civil Code Day, 2080 in Kathmandu.

It is expected that these legal documents, which are directly related to the daily life of ordinary citizens, will help to build a non-discriminatory, open, democratic and advanced society by legally ending all types of discrimination as directed by the Constitution of Nepal, maintained the Prime Minister. "I believe that the successful implementation of the codes will help to establish the legal system of Nepal as a country with the best justice and legal system," he stated.

PM Prachanda also took the opportunity to express the commitment of the government in moving forward with contemporary improvements in the laws related to the code regarding the rapid development of information technology, norms developed in the international world, and control of crimes committed by criminals in one country while residing in another country.

"Law is the means of guaranteeing good governance in the country. The state system can be operated in a correct manner only in the successful implementation of the law. It is necessary to lead the country on the journey of prosperity by implementing all those laws," he said.

For this, according to him, it is necessary for everyone to commit to the effective implementation of the Code by prioritising the capacity development of all parties concerned.

Before the promulgation of Civil Code 1853, punishment was determined on the basis of caste and colour among others.

Based on the same Civil Code, a new civil law enacted in 1963 was an attempt to address the immediate political, economic and social changes.

Although the civil law promulgated in 1963 prohibited untouchability and other discrimination on the basis of caste, there is no legal provision to punish such behaviour, so there was no expected change in the society against untouchability and other discrimination.

Along with the political changes following the dawn of democracy in 1950, various other attempts of legal reform were also made.

There is a need for radical reforms in the legal system of the country to address the political changes of 1990 and especially the unprecedented changes in the political and social system brought about by the popular movement in 2006, said PM Prachanda. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 August 2023.