Government moves to reduce period for declaring missing persons dead from 12 years to 45 days

KATHMANDU: The government has recommended issuing an ordinance to amend existing laws and remove legal obstacles to declaring missing persons dead.

A Cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Wednesday decided to recommend an ordinance to amend some Nepal Acts related to disasters, introducing provisions to remove legal hurdles in declaring missing persons dead.

Government spokesperson and Education Minister Sasmit Pokhrel said the existing provision requiring a person to have been missing for 12 years before being declared dead would be reduced to 45 days in view of the Bhotekoshi floods.