Kathmandu— Law Minister for Nepal, Sobita Gautam, has proposed that the National Investigation Department (NID) should be placed under the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers rather than the Home Ministry. This suggestion was made during a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee in response to MPs' questions about the Bill to Revive Previous Provisions of the Nepal Special Services Act, 2042.

Minister's Argument for Reorganization

During today’s meeting, Minister Gautam argued that the NID’s work is specialized and at a higher level compared to regular peace and security responsibilities handled by the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force. She emphasized that placing the department under the Prime Minister's Office would better align with its unique role in intelligence gathering and analysis.

Committee Decision and Opposition Reactions

The committee, chaired by Hari Dhakal, agreed to pass the bill as proposed. Members noted that the current structure of the NID was weak in terms of professional efficiency and needed restructuring. However, opposition parties such as Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (UML), and Nepali Communist Party (NCP) suggested amendments to keep the department under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Despite these proposals, the bill passed by a majority vote without considering their amendments.

The bill will now be presented in parliament for further consideration.

(With inputs from Rising Nepal)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.