Bill to expand CIAA powers put on hold

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, JUNE 24 The ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) today decided to put the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority
(Third Amendment) Bill on hold after the billprovision to allow the constitutional watchdog to investigate the private sector drew flak. NCP
Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha said he raised the issue in the partyStanding Committee meeting following which the party leadership
issued a directive to the partylawmakers not to proceed with the bill being considered in the National Assembly, the Upper House of the
Parliament. Shrestha said he told Standing Committee members that letting the CIAA investigate the private sector would violate the
constitution
Moreover, the bill intended to create another powerful authority parallel to the government, he added. The amendment to the bill allows the
CIAA to investigate corruption in banks, medical colleges, public limited companies and institutions receiving funds from any of the three
tiers of the government, besides public institutions. The Legislation Committee of the NA has finalised its report on the bill endorsing the
provision to give the CIAA jurisdiction to probe the private sector
The bill was removed from the NAbusiness schedule yesterday after the Nepali Congress sought more time to study the bill and form its views
on it. A version of this article appears in e-paper on June 25, 2020, of The Himalayan Times. The post Bill to expand CIAA powers put on
hold appeared first on The Himalayan Times.