KATHMANDU: A preliminary agreement has been reached on requiring the executive director of the National Forensic Science Laboratory to hold a postgraduate degree from a university recognised under prevailing law.
The agreement was reached during a meeting of the House of Representatives’ Education, Health and Information Technology Committee at Singha Durbar on Monday while discussing the National Forensic Science Laboratory (Establishment and Operation) Bill.
The committee agreed in principle to replace the phrase “by the Government of Nepal” with “from a university recognised under prevailing law” in the provision concerning the appointment of the laboratory’s executive director.
Similarly, the committee agreed to replace the word “kidnapping,” as amended by the National Assembly, with a provision referring to a person not having been convicted of offences related to kidnapping, caste-based and other forms of social untouchability and discrimination.
Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun said during the meeting that even people who have obtained degrees from renowned foreign universities face difficulties in having their qualifications recognised in Nepal by Tribhuvan University or other relevant bodies.
Pun said that although equivalence certification was previously provided by Tribhuvan University and is now handled through the University Grants Commission, there remains ambiguity over which institution’s recognition should be considered authoritative.
He said practical difficulties also arise in determining the scope of recognition because foreign universities may themselves be accredited institutions that award recognised degrees.
The committee also discussed the age requirement for appointment as executive director, including whether the minimum age should remain at 30, be left open, or be increased to 34-35 years.
However, members proposed retaining the existing age provision for the time being rather than making an immediate amendment.
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