KATHMANDU, July 6: The government's efforts to address the issues faced by loan sharking victims have hit a roadblock as the parliament failed to endorse the Ordinance on loan sharking on time.
According to Ekram Giri, the spokesperson for the Parliament Secretariat, the ordinance was repealed due to the constitutional time limit. "It was canceled in accordance with the provisions stated in the constitution," he explained.
Govt to introduce ordinance to address issues of loan sharking...
In a bid to address the concerns surrounding loan sharking, President Ram Chandra Paudel introduced an ordinance to amend certain Nepali laws related to the Civil Code on May 3, following the government's recommendation. Subsequently, President Paudel called for the Parliament's budget session on May 7. The government then submitted a bill to amend various Nepal Acts in the House of Representatives on May 9.
While the ordinance was initially introduced to tackle the loan sharking issue, it became ineffective due to the constitutional requirement to introduce a replacement bill within 60 days. As per Clause 2 (c) of Article 114 of the Constitution, an ordinance becomes inactive after 60 days. During Wednesday's House of Representatives meeting, there was an agenda to pass the bill.
However, the meeting was disrupted after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal raised objections on Monday regarding allegations that businessman Pritam Singh had visited Delhi multiple times to secure Dahal's position as Prime Minister. Following a protest by loan sharking victims in Kathmandu, the government had promised to take action against the perpetrators by enacting a law.
Unfortunately, the Bill 2080 BS to amend certain Nepal Acts related to the Civil Code, has been pending for an extended period without being passed.
