Legal hurdles for the formation of provincial police have been finally cleared in Gandaki Provincial after the provincial assembly endorsed a bill regarding the provincial police force on Wednesday.

Even after its formation nearly three years ago the provincial government does not have its own police force.

“The endorsement of the bill is a milestone for the implementation of federalism,” said Hari Bahadur Chuman, provincial minister for internal affairs and law. “The government will now initiate the process to form the provincial police force.”

Nepali Congress, the main opposition party in the provincial assembly, also hailed the bill which paves the way to form the provincial police force. “There could be some shortcomings in the bill but we can correct them in course of time. The process of forming provincial police is part of implementing federalism,” said Krishnachandra Nepali Pokharel, the NC parliamentary party leader.

According to the bill, chief district officers will be authorised to mobilise the provincial police in their respective districts. The provincial police should follow instructions of the chief district officers who in turn should follow directives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law.
“While Nepal Police and provincial police are being deployed jointly to maintain peace and order, the provincial police will function under Nepal Police” reads the bill.

According to the constitutional provision, the bill will become an Act after the provincial chief authenticates it. The provincial executive can form its own police once the provincial chief authenticates the bill.

The bill has the concept of various police structures including municipal police, rural police, tourism police, volunteer police and neighbourhood police. The bill also has the provision of allocating 45 percent of the seats through open competition to women, Janajatis, Madhesis/Tharus, Dalits and people from remote areas.

The federal government, according to the bill, will deploy a deputy inspector general of Nepal Police to lead the provincial police. Perks and salary of the provincial police chief will be determined by the provincial government.

As per the bill, the provincial government will appoint senior superintendents of police while the minister for internal affairs and law will appoint superintendents of police, deputy superintendents of police and police inspectors.

The secretary of the ministry will appoint sub-inspectors while the provincial police chief will appoint assistant sub-Inspectors. Head constables and constables will be appointed by the superintendents or deputy superintendents of police.