ALIN Legislative News
From Nepal Law Commission
Banking
Offences and Punishment (Second Amendment) Act, 2025
The amendment modernizes Nepal’s
banking offence framework by bringing cooperative banks under regulation and
introducing Section 3A to ensure fairness and clarity in cheque dishonour
cases. The new tiered penalty system promotes proportional justice, while the
compounding provision encourages dispute settlement outside court. Repealing
Section 107A of the Negotiable Instruments Act consolidates cheque-related
offences under one law, improving legal consistency and enforcement efficiency.
Nepal Citizenship (Second Amendment) Act, 2025
The government
tabled and processed a second amendment to the Nepal Citizenship Act, 2063
(2006 AD). Citizenship law is highly politically and socially sensitive in
Nepal; any substantive amendments can affect eligibility, transmission of
citizenship (by descent/marriage) and documentation requirements. Legal
practitioners, rights groups and agencies handling nationality checks should
review the final text for changes affecting family reunification,
naturalisation, or statelessness risks.
Voter List (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2025
The President
issued a Voter List (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2082 (2025 AD) to effect
timely changes to electoral rolls ahead of forthcoming elections. The ordinance
was issued in late 2082 B.S. and reported publicly in September 2025 in
government law portals and media. Ordinances used to amend electoral law
indicate urgency (usually to prepare rolls for an imminent election).
Stakeholders including election commissions, parties, civil society and
international observers should monitor implementation, as changes to voter-list
rules (inclusion, verification, deadlines) can materially affect voter
participation and disputes.
Martyr Dasharath Chand University of Health Sciences
Act, 2025
Parliament
passed, and the President authenticated, the Act establishing Shaheed Dasharath
Chand University of Health Sciences to regulate and oversee health science
education in a designated region. The bill was certified by the President in
June 2025 and the new university’s leadership selection processes are already
under way. Establishing a statutory health sciences university creates a new
regulatory and academic node for medical and allied health education expect
rulemaking on curricula, accreditation, and institutional governance to follow.
This will be relevant to education lawyers, accreditation bodies and healthcare
employers.
Customs Act, 2025
A consolidated
Customs Act, 2082 (Bhansar Ain) has been published/posted in 2082 B.S. (2025
AD). The new Act updates definitions, customs valuation rules and institutional
arrangements for customs administration. Official PDFs and departmental pages list
the Act text and related rulemaking documents. A new/updated Customs Act
affects import/export compliance, valuation, tariff application and
enforcement. Traders, customs brokers, and international investors should
reassess procedures (documents, valuation, EXIM codes and bonds) to ensure
continuity and avoid seizures or penalty exposure during the transition to the
new regime.