Kathmandu, September 22
The government has brought a bill under which the prime minister will be the chancellor of the National Defence University.
This provision is mentioned in Section 19 of the bill, registered in the House of Representatives on Tuesday by Prime Minister and Defence Minister Balen Shah.
It states, “The prime minister shall be the chancellor of the university.”
The chancellor will preside over meetings of the assembly and the university’s convocation ceremony.
If the chancellor is unable to attend the convocation ceremony, the assembly’s co-chair will preside over it instead.
The chancellor may inspect the university, or have it inspected, and issue directives as needed.
Section 20 provides for a vice-chancellor. It states, “There shall be one vice-chancellor at the university to act as the university’s chief executive.”
The bill also sets qualifications for the vice-chancellor.
Under it, a person must be at least 45 years old to become vice-chancellor.
They must also hold at least a master’s degree from a recognised university in defence, security, military studies, strategic studies, international relations, international law, or diplomacy.
The provision also requires at least 20 years of experience in the relevant field.
Section 3 of the proposed bill deals with the university’s establishment, where its objective is laid out.
Sub-section 1 of Section 3 states, “The National Defence University is established as a specialised academic centre for advanced study, teaching and research in national security, defence, international relations and strategic affairs, to produce skilled, qualified, capable and responsible human resources who can contribute to protecting, promoting and advancing the national interest.”
The university will be called the National Defence University in English.
The university’s central office will be located at Perungedanda in Banepa Municipality, Kavrepalanchok district, Bagmati Province.
Under Section 4 of the bill, the university will be an autonomous, self-governing and organised institution.
Sub-section 1 of Section 4 states, “The university shall be an autonomous, self-governing and organised institution with perpetual succession, and shall acquire the status of a legal person.”
As a legal person, the university will exercise rights, perform duties and discharge obligations under prevailing law.
However, the bill proposes that before selling any immovable property or transferring ownership of it in any other way, the university must obtain approval from the Government of Nepal, the Council of Ministers.
According to Prime Minister and Defence Minister Balen Shah, the university is being established to protect, promote and advance the national interest through high-level study, teaching and research in national security, defence, international relations and strategic affairs.
He said the National Defence University bill has been drafted with the aim of producing capable, skilled and responsible human resources, both domestic and foreign, for this purpose.
PM Shah has written in the bill itself, “The main reason for establishing and operating this university is to provide higher education and training to military and non-military officials by setting up a specialised academic centre at home to address geopolitical sensitivities and changing security challenges.”
The bill aims to help the government by providing evidence-based advice and suggestions when formulating security and strategic policy, as well as to make a significant contribution to strengthening the country’s security diplomacy.
According to PM Shah, infrastructure construction for the National Defence University has reached its final phase. It is in this context that the bill has been brought, given the need for a permanent and clear legal structure to operate it and grant it academic autonomy.
Once registered in the House of Representatives, the bill will go through the process of passing there and then move to the National Assembly. After the National Assembly also passes it, it comes back to the House of Representatives. It then goes from the Speaker to the President. Once the President signs it, it becomes an Act and is published in the Gazette. The Act comes into effect once published in the Gazette.
