Kathmandu, Nov 21: The Public Policy and Delegated Legislation Committee of the Parliament has emphasized the urgent need to replace the Nepal Immigration Act, 2049 BS, with a new and updated law. According to the Committee, the existing Act is outdated and no longer meets current national needs.
During its meeting on Friday, the Committee also urged the government to promptly introduce subsidiary legislation to ensure the effective implementation of the current Act until a new one is enacted.
Briefing the media on the meeting’s outcomes, Committee Chairperson Maya Prasad Sharma stressed that the 33-year-old Act does not reflect present-day realities or technological advancements. Although recently introduced working procedures have offered some improvements, he noted that auxiliary legislation aligned with the main Act remains essential.
“The Act of 2049 BS is no longer sufficient to address today’s challenges. Without necessary subsidiary laws, a significant gap remains between the statutory provisions and their practical implementation,” he said.
Experts present at the meeting cautioned that, under the Legislation Act 2081, several existing laws could become inactive. They underscored the urgent need for the government to prepare the required subordinate legislation to ensure a coherent and functional legal framework.
Former Chief Secretary Shankardas Bairagi, Constituent Assembly member Khimlal Devkota, Director General of the Department of Immigration Ramchandra Tiwari, and Chief Immigration Officer Narhari Ghimire shared insights on matters such as national security, the use of technology, new visa categories, and improvements in immigration management.
Director General Tiwari highlighted the importance of monitoring the entry of foreign nationals and ensuring necessary security measures. The meeting also discussed simplifying the visa system and cautioned that excessively stringent procedures could push citizens to travel abroad through irregular routes via third countries. #nepal #immigration
