Parliamentary committee starts discussion on Army Bill

September 14, 2006
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The parliamentary State Affairs Committee has started clause wise discussion on Army Act amendment bill 2063 BS from Thursday.

The bill was presented before the reinstated House of Representatives by the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Narendra Bikram Nemwang on behalf of the prime minister, who is also the defense minister.

According to the bill, the prime minister will be the supreme commander of the Nepal Army henceforth. Similarly, the Chief of Army the Staff will no more be the member of the National Security Council.

The bill will also detach the Nepali Army from the palace.

Nepali Army faced severe criticism from all walks of life for its role in suppressing pro-democracy movement of the country during direct rule of the king.

The bill proposes that the NA should be made accountable to the people of Nepal and the parliament.

The committee is expected to finalize the bill in the next three days and submit to the parliament to pass it.

Taking part in the discussion lawmakers have said that the Army welfare fund and Army Court should be made transparent and free of controversies.

The lawmakers added that the military court should look after only those cases solely that are related to the army and civilian court should look after cases related to the civilians.

However, military officials present in the discussion, claimed that there will be problem while submitting all the cases to the civilian court, adding, “If the cases were handed over to the civilian court, culprits in the army could not be suspended and the justice delivery system could be delayed. “