HoR Begins Deliberations on Bill to Amend Transitional Justice Act

The House of Representatives (HoR) today initiated deliberations on the Bill aimed at amending the Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons and Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act (Third Amendment) – 2079 BS. The amendment is a critical step in advancing Nepal’s long-standing transitional justice process.

At the outset of today’s HoR session, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli requested time from Speaker Devraj Ghimire to address the House on the matter. Reflecting on the recent political consensus surrounding the Bill, he expressed his satisfaction, noting that the agreement on the Transitional Justice Act, coming 18 years after the peace process began, is a significant achievement.

“This understanding is a source of happiness as it represents progress in our journey toward completing the peace process,” Prime Minister Oli remarked.

Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, proposed that the House begin deliberations on the Bill, commonly referred to as the TRC Bill. The proposal was unanimously accepted by the session.

Today’s session is set to include political addresses from high-level leadership, with the lower house expected to endorse the Bill later in the day.

In Tuesday’s meeting, Bimala Subedi, President of the Law and Justice Committee, presented the Committee’s report on the Bill, 2081 BS. The Bill had been referred to the Committee for further discussion and was unanimously approved on June 6. A three-member political task force had been formed to reach a consensus on some of the contentious provisions within the Bill.

The Bill’s passage is seen as a crucial step in ensuring that the transitional justice process in Nepal moves forward, addressing the grievances of victims and fulfilling the commitments made during the peace process.