Govt preparing amendments to procurement & forest acts: Law Minister

KATHMANDU: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam has announced that the government is preparing amendments to the Public Procurement Act and the Forest Act, with draft bills currently in progress and expected to be tabled in Parliament soon.

Speaking during Thursday’s session of the Federal Parliament while responding to lawmakers’ queries on the ministry’s budget, Minister Gautam said that both legislative reforms are being prioritized as part of the government’s broader legal and institutional strengthening agenda.

She further informed lawmakers that the government plans to present a legislative calendar outlining priorities and timelines for lawmaking for the upcoming fiscal year by the end of Asar. According to her, the initiative aims to make the lawmaking process more systematic, transparent, and predictable.

Highlighting a shift in policy, the minister stated that the government intends to reduce dependence on external consultants in drafting legislation. Instead, the Nepal Law Commission will be strengthened and developed as the central institution for legal drafting and research.

She acknowledged that the Commission’s infrastructure and records had suffered significant damage due to fire incidents during past protests, but stressed the need to rebuild it as a “centre of excellence” for legislative drafting in Nepal.

“The Nepal Law Commission will not only be restored but transformed into a centre of excellence for legislative formulation,” she said, adding that it would enhance the quality of legal research and drafting.

Minister Gautam also emphasized the state’s responsibility to expand legal awareness among citizens, noting that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. She said the ministry is regularly conducting awareness programs and urged lawmakers to play an active role in connecting citizens with legal information.

She also informed that all updated laws are now accessible through the ministry’s official website, improving public access to legal resources.

On the issue of judicial backlog, the minister acknowledged the growing number of pending cases in courts and said the ministry is working with relevant stakeholders to explore reforms aimed at reducing the burden.

Reiterating government commitment, she stated that transitional justice remains a top priority and efforts are underway to bring it to a timely conclusion.

During the budget discussion, Minister Gautam also urged lawmakers to withdraw proposals for expenditure cuts, assuring that constructive suggestions would be incorporated into implementation plans.