By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Sept. 26: The government has endorsed an ordinance draft on the acid attack-related offenses with stern provisions of fine and compensation and decided to send it to the Office of President for authentication and issuance.
A meeting of the Council of Minister held on Thursday decided to issue the ordinance related to acid and acid-related chemicals and its regulation-2077 seeking amendment to the existing provisions mentioned in the Criminal and Panel Law under the Criminal (Code) Act-2017 and Criminal Procedure (Code) Act-2017.
The draft of the ordinance was prepared by Nepal Law Commission, and was tabled at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
According to Minister for Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs Dr. Shiva Maya Thumbahamphe, the Cabinet meeting held on Thursday evening decided to issue the ordinance with some specific and stern legal actions against the acid attackers with a provision of compensating the victims. The ordinance will come into effect after President Bidya Devi Bhandari issues it and it gets published in the Nepal Gazette.
Hari Prasad Dahal, joint secretary and spokesperson at the Office of the President, said the ordinance did not arrive at his office from the Prime Minister’s Office till 4:00 pm on Friday. The ordinance is not likely to arrive at the President Office by Friday evening, he said.
The existing Criminal (Code) Act 2017 has a provision of giving death penalty in case the acid victim dies and maximum eight years’ jail sentence if the victim's body part gets damaged and disfigured.
Similarly, the existing provision mentioned in the Act has also given way to file a murder charge sheet against the alleged attackers. And in such case, the defendant may face up to 10 years of jail sentence if proven guilty by the court.
The government has amended the above mentioned provisions with stricter provisions in the ordinance.
The ordinance has also managed a provision of not providing any amnesty to the acid attackers and they have to complete the full jail term.
Introducing the ordinance, the government has amended the Section 192 and 193 of the Criminal (Code) Act 2017. The new provision in the ordinance has introduced 20-year imprisonment and Rs.1 million compensation if the attackers hurled and poured acid on the victims or force them to drink it causing body disfiguration.
But in-case of the death of the victim during the treatment or after the treatment, such person would be prosecuted under murder charge sheet.
The ordinance has also inserted a provision of taking compulsory approval by the concerned shops and institutions for selling, distributing and producing acid and acid-related other harmful chemicals. If anybody found selling and distributing acid without license or approval of the government, such company or people would be jailed for three to one year term and fined from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 100,000.