Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed senior government officials including the secretaries to expedite formulation of the federal laws required to implement the new constitution.

The PM also urged the officials to set criteria for deputation of employees at the local level as part of preparations for the local level elections scheduled for May 14. He warned that any employee refusing to go to the assigned station would face action.

Urging secretaries not to be lenient on issues related to implementation of federalism, he told the meeting that 38 Acts had been formulated since the promulgation of the constitution in 2015 while four laws were in the process of authentication. Drafts of five Acts have already been endorsed by the Legislature-Parliament while 39 bills were under consideration of various parliamentary committees.

“There is no legal problem for holding the local level polls but priority should be attached to laws required for implementing federalism in the country,” the PM said, asking civil servants to focus on timely delivery of services to the people.

“We need to depute officials and civil servants without discrimination. If any civil servant refuses to take up his or her assignment, action should be taken immediately.”