Immovable Property Requisition Act, 2013

What does it do?

• The Government of Nepal may requisition immovable property (a building or part of it, with its garden, land and sheds, fixtures and the furniture and goods inside) when it is needed for public work of the federal government, a provincial government or a local level. A 2075 amendment added provinces and local levels to the purposes; the power itself stays with the Government of Nepal. The Act took effect at once in Kathmandu Valley and elsewhere from a date notified in the Nepal Gazette.सङ्घ, प्रदेश सरकार वा स्थानीय तहको कुनै सार्वजनिक कामका लागि आवश्यक परेमा नेपाल सरकारले अचल सम्पत्ति (घर वा त्यसको भाग, सँगैको बगैँचा, जमिन, टहरा, जडान गरिएका वस्तु र भित्रका सरसामान) अधिग्रहण गर्न सक्छ। २०७५ को संशोधनले प्रयोजनमा प्रदेश र स्थानीय तह थपेको हो, तर अधिग्रहण गर्ने अधिकार नेपाल सरकारमै रहेको छ। यो ऐन काठमाडौँ उपत्यकामा तुरुन्तै र अन्य क्षेत्रमा नेपाल राजपत्रमा सूचना दिएर तोकिएको मितिदेखि लागू भएको हो। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Section 1(2), pp. 1–2; Section 2(ga), p. 2; Section 3(1), p. 3
• Before requisitioning, the government must give the owner or occupier written notice to show within 35 days why the property should not be taken, and may order that it not be sold, altered or let without approval during that time. After considering any objection it issues a written requisition order. A home actually used by the owner and family, and places used only for worship, schools, hospitals, public libraries, rest houses (dharmashala) or orphanages, cannot be requisitioned. A tenant who has lived in the property for two months before the notice must, as far as possible, be given other housing. A requisition order cannot be challenged in any court.अधिग्रहण गर्नुअघि सरकारले सम्पत्तिधनी वा चलन गर्नेलाई अधिग्रहण गर्न नहुने कारण भए ३५ दिनभित्र पेस गर्न लिखित सूचना दिनुपर्छ, र सो अवधिभर स्वीकृतिबिना बेच्न, आकार फेर्न वा बहालमा दिन नपाउने आदेश दिन सक्छ। उजुरी विचार गरेपछि लिखित आदेशद्वारा अधिग्रहण गरिन्छ। धनी र परिवारले वास्तवमा बसोबास गरिरहेको घर, तथा पूजापाठ, विद्यालय, अस्पताल, सार्वजनिक पुस्तकालय, धर्मशाला वा अनाथालयका लागि मात्र प्रयोग भइरहेको स्थान अधिग्रहण गरिँदैन। सूचना दिनुभन्दा दुई महिनाअघिदेखि बसोबास गरिरहेको मोहीलाई सकेसम्म अर्को बसोबासको प्रबन्ध गरिन्छ। अधिग्रहण आदेशउपर कुनै अदालतमा मुद्दा चल्दैन। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Section 3(1)–(3), pp. 3–4
• After an order, the owner or occupier must hand the property to the named officer within 15 days; if they refuse, the officer may use the force needed to take possession. The government may order the owner to carry out repairs (or do them itself and deduct the cost from compensation), and may release the property at any time, returning it as far as possible in the condition it was taken. The government may delegate these powers to an officer by notice in the Gazette.आदेशपछि सम्पत्तिधनी वा चलन गर्नेले १५ दिनभित्र तोकिएको अधिकृतलाई सम्पत्ति बुझाउनुपर्छ; नबुझाएमा अधिकृतले आवश्यक बल प्रयोग गरेर कब्जा गर्न सक्छ। सरकारले धनीलाई मर्मत गर्न लगाउन (वा आफैँ मर्मत गरी खर्च क्षतिपूर्तिबाट कट्टा गर्न) र जुनसुकै बेला अधिग्रहण फुकुवा गरी सम्पत्ति सकेसम्म अधिग्रहण गर्दाकै अवस्थामा फिर्ता दिन सक्छ। यी अधिकार राजपत्रमा सूचना प्रकाशित गरी कुनै सरकारी अधिकृतलाई सुम्पन सकिन्छ। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Sections 4–6, pp. 4–6; Section 9, p. 7
• The government must pay compensation: the amount agreed with the owner, or, failing agreement, the amount decided by a sitting or retired judge appointed as arbitrator. It covers the rent or lease the property would have earned during the requisition and the cost of restoring it to its earlier condition (ordinary wear and natural disasters excluded). No compensation is paid to an owner who, in the government's view, is a Nepali citizen normally living outside Nepal or has put most of their movable assets abroad. Breaking the Act or obstructing its use is punishable by a fine of up to Rs 1,000, up to six months' imprisonment, or both.सरकारले क्षतिपूर्ति दिनुपर्छ: धनीसँग मञ्जुरीनामामा तय भएको रकम, नभए सरकारले मध्यस्थ नियुक्त गरेको बहालवाला वा अवकाशप्राप्त न्यायाधीशले निर्णय गरेको रकम। क्षतिपूर्तिमा अधिग्रहण अवधिभरको बहाल वा भाडा र सम्पत्तिलाई पहिलेकै अवस्थामा ल्याउन लाग्ने खर्च पर्छ (सामान्य टुटफुट र दैवी घटनाबाहेक)। नेपाली नागरिक भई सामान्यतः विदेशमा बस्ने वा चल सम्पत्तिको ठूलो भाग विदेशमा लगाएको भन्ने सरकारलाई लागेमा त्यस्ता धनीलाई क्षतिपूर्ति दिइँदैन। ऐन उल्लङ्घन गर्ने वा कार्यान्वयनमा बाधा पुर्‍याउनेलाई रु. १,००० सम्म जरिवाना वा छ महिनासम्म कैद वा दुवै हुन्छ। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Sections 7–8, pp. 6–7; Section 10, p. 7

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.

• Acquiring private property for public use: three Acts from 2013, 2019 and 2034 cover overlapping ground

Regulations and rules made under it

• अचल सम्पत्ति अधिग्रहण नियमहरु, २०१६ In force