KATHMANDU: Following the dissolution of the three commissions formed to address loan sharking issues, the government has directed all District Administration Offices (DAOs) to reactivate district-level mechanisms to register and process related grievances.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, all 77 DAOs have been instructed to mobilize a three-member district-level committee coordinated by the Assistant Chief District Officer (CDO), comprising representatives from the District Police Office, either a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) or Inspector of Police, and from the District Government Attorney’s Office.
The directive was issued after the expiry of the commission’s tenure left the complaint mechanism inactive. Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal instructed subordinate agencies, including district administrations, to ensure that the local mechanisms resume handling unresolved cases.
The latest of the three loan sharking probe commissions was led by Baburam Regmi, with Bharat Bahadur Bohara and Badri Prasad Bhattarai as members. The Regmi-led commission, formed on March 10, officially began its work on March 26.
A circular issued by Under Secretary Prem Prasad Dahal stated, “Some districts became inactive after the commission’s tenure ended; therefore, district committees are requested to continue functioning effectively in accordance with the ministry’s decision.”
The federal parliament, through an amendment to the Criminal Code 2017, added Section 249(a) on July 12, 2023, legally classifying loan sharking as a criminal offense.
According to the Regmi Commission’s latest report, a total of 41,409 complaints were registered from 43 districts. Of these, 6,393 cases were resolved, while 35,016 complaints remain pending for further action.
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