Government promulgates ordinance empowering cabinet to extend the tenure of local body

Though the date of municipal election is coming nearer the government on Tuesday re-promulgated an ordinance vesting power to the Council of Ministers to extend the tenure of any local body if polls cannot be conducted.

Amending the Clause 239 of the Local Self Governance Act 1998, the government vested power to the Council of Ministers to extend the tenure of the local government up to three years if election could not be hold even after extension of the tenure of such a local body for a year.

According to the Act, Village Development Committees, District Development Committees and Municipalities are entitled as local bodies, according to reports.

The Sub clause 2 of the Clause 239 states that the government can extend the tenure of a local body up to three years by nominating representatives or by giving authorities to government officials to run the local bodies if election cannot be conducted due to the natural calamity, economic adversity, worse law and order situation and other factors.

Six months ago, the government had had promulgated the ordinance giving power to the Council of Ministers to extend the tenure up to one year. nepalnews.com pb Jan 25 06