Interpretation of Laws Act, 2010(1954)

What does it do?

• This Act sets general rules for reading every Nepali Act, rule and order. It defines dozens of common legal words (for example 'son' includes an adopted son and 'daughter' an adopted daughter, 'writing' includes printed and pictured text, 'signature' includes a thumbprint, and 'year' means the Nepali calendar year starting from Baisakh). Unless the context says otherwise, masculine words include the feminine and the singular includes the plural.नेपालका सबै ऐन, नियम र आदेश कसरी बुझ्ने भन्ने साझा नियम यो ऐनले तोक्छ। यसले धेरै प्रचलित कानूनी शब्दको अर्थ दिन्छ (जस्तै 'पुत्र' मा धर्मपुत्र र 'पुत्री' मा धर्मपुत्री पर्छन्, 'लिखित' मा छापिएको वा तस्बिरसहितको लेखाइ पर्छ, 'सहीछाप' मा ल्याप्चे पर्छ, र 'साल' भन्नाले वैशाखबाट सुरु हुने नेपाली वर्ष बुझिन्छ)। अर्को अर्थ नलागेमा पुलिङ्ग शब्दले स्त्रीलिङ्ग र एकवचनले बहुवचनलाई पनि बुझाउँछ। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Section 2, pp. 2–8; Section 12, p. 11
• When an Act does not state its start date, it takes effect on the date fixed by section 3 for its period: since 3 Asoj 2072, the day the President authenticates an Act passed by Parliament. No one can be punished for conduct before an Act is published in the Gazette.कुनै ऐनमा लागू हुने मिति नलेखिएमा दफा ३ ले सो अवधिका लागि तोकेको मितिदेखि लागू हुन्छ: २०७२ असोज ३ पछि बनेका ऐन संसद्बाट पारित भई राष्ट्रपतिले प्रमाणीकरण गरेको दिनदेखि। ऐन राजपत्रमा प्रकाशित हुनुअघि गरिएको कामका लागि त्यस ऐनबमोजिम सजाय हुँदैन। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Section 3, pp. 8–9
• Repealing a law does not undo things done, rights acquired, or penalties already imposed under it, and pending investigations and cases continue; references to a repealed law are read as references to the law that replaced it. Deadlines that fall on a holiday move to the next working day, and a person who commits an offence under two or more Acts may be punished under only one of them, once.कुनै ऐन खारेज हुँदा त्यसअन्तर्गत भइसकेका काम, प्राप्त हक वा भइसकेको सजायमा असर पर्दैन, र चलिरहेका अनुसन्धान र मुद्दा जारी रहन्छन्; खारेज भएको ऐनको उल्लेखलाई त्यसको सट्टा आएको ऐनको उल्लेख मानिन्छ। म्यादको अन्तिम दिन बिदा परे त्यसपछि कार्यालय खुलेको पहिलो दिनसम्म म्याद रहन्छ, र दुई वा बढी ऐनअन्तर्गत कसूर हुने कामका लागि कुनै एक ऐनअन्तर्गत एकपटक मात्र सजाय हुन्छ। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Sections 4–7 and 9, pp. 10–11; Section 25, p. 16
• An Act binds the government with taxes or duties only if it says so clearly. Powers may be used whenever needed. Decisions the law assigns to 'the Government of Nepal' are validly taken by the Council of Ministers for Cabinet matters, and otherwise by the minister or a special-class officer under the government's business rules or delegation.ऐनमा स्पष्ट उल्लेख नभएसम्म नेपाल सरकारमाथि कर, दायित्व वा कार्यभार लगाएको मानिँदैन। ऐनले दिएको अधिकार आवश्यक परेका बेला प्रयोग गर्न सकिन्छ। कानूनमा 'नेपाल सरकार' ले गर्ने भनिएका काम मन्त्रिपरिषद्मा जानुपर्ने विषयमा मन्त्रिपरिषद्ले, र अन्य विषयमा कार्यसम्पादन नियमावली वा प्रत्यायोजनबमोजिम मन्त्री वा विशिष्ट श्रेणीका अधिकृतले गरेमा नेपाल सरकारले गरेको मानिन्छ। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Sections 13–14क, p. 12

Gaps, loopholes and improvement ideas

None documented in the official reports we have reviewed so far.

Where does it conflict with other laws?

No conflict with another law is documented in the sources we have reviewed so far.

Open questions for lawmakers

Research candidates on possible conflicts, gaps or loopholes involving this law. Not legal findings: each awaits qualified legal review.

• Hoarding, adulteration and deceptive sale: the same conduct punished under the Black-Market Act, the Consumer Protection Act and the Criminal Code