Provincial Ministers have expressed serious concerns over the provisions that allow the federal Government to mobilise provincial Police Chief, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), reports Kathmandu Post on July 16. Besides, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and Superintendent of Police (SP) will also be under the federal Government until a provincial Police official appointed by the provincial Government is promoted to the post of SSP. Registered at the House of Representatives on March 13, the bill on adjusting Nepal Police and Provincial Police was endorsed by the Parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee on July 13. As it was endorsed unanimously by the committee, the bill is set to pass both Houses of federal Parliament without any hindrance. The provinces have also been objecting to the federal Government’s plan to give continuation to Chief District Officers (CDOs) as the federal Government’s contact persons. The provincial Ministers believe that the federal Government is bent on keeping CDOs as the Home Ministry’s liaison officials. “Who will mobilise the DIGs, SPs and SSPs? The federal government? This is nothing but a ploy to keep the CDOs in districts and empower them, thereby robbing the provinces of their right,” said Shalikram Jamarkattel, Internal Affairs and Law Minister of Province 3. Meanwhile, Gyanendra Yadav, Internal Affairs and Law Minister of Province 2, said “The constitution has enlisted ‘peace and security’ as provincial governments’ explicit authority. I don’t know what the federal parliament is preparing. All I know is that the police administration of provinces must be under the provincial governments. The federal government must act according to the constitution.” The Internal Affairs and Law Ministers of the seven Provinces, according to Jamarkattel, are considering moving the court to challenge the federal Government’s attempt to impose its control through legal frameworks.