Kathmandu, October 7
The government is preparing to amend the law to significantly reduce the period after which a missing person can be legally declared dead.
A Cabinet meeting on Wednesday recommended that President Ram Chandra Paudel issue an ordinance to amend certain Nepal laws related to disasters.
According to government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel, the existing law requires a person to have been missing for 12 years before they can be declared dead.
The proposed amendment would reduce the period to around 45 days.
“The change is quite significant. The 12-year period is being reduced to around 45 days,” Pokharel said.
The proposed change is expected to address situations in which people remain unaccounted for following major disasters and other emergencies, where waiting 12 years to establish their legal status can create difficulties for their families.
