SC Rules against Recruiting Minors in Police, Army

Kathmandu Dec 16 The Supreme Court of Nepal on Thursday ruled the Army and police forces against inducting recruits below 18 years of age.

The apex court declared nullification of two laws, one relating to the Nepal Police and the other to the Royal Nepal Army, which provided rooms for recruitments below 18 years of age.

Police Recruitment and Service Regulations 2042 and Recruitment Service Regulations of Royal Nepal Army-2028 were declared null and void by the Supreme Court.

The verdict was delivered by a three-member bench of justices Messrs Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Badri Kumar Basnet and Kalyan Shrestha.

The ruling came in response to a petition filed by advocate Sabin Shrestha seven months ago, claiming that the provision of recruiting youths below 18 contravened Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal as well as United Nations and other international conventions.

In their response during the Court hearings, both Nepal Police and the Royal Nepal Army had testified that they had already stopped recruiting people below 18.

Earlier, Police used to recruit even from 13-17 years age group and Royal Nepal Army from 15-18 year age groups.