The Nepal government has dissolved the National Land Commission, according to a minister who confirmed the decision in a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
Formed on September 15th, 2021, and led by Keshav Niraula, the commission was tasked with providing land titles (“Lalpurja”) to groups including landless Dalits, squatters, and unorganized residents. This initiative was in progress, with applications and surveying already underway.
The commission’s abolition coincides with a proposal before the Finance Ministry to reduce fees associated with granting government land titles to unorganized residents. It follows a change in the ruling coalition and mirrors previous actions by a past government to dismantle a similar commission led by the UML party.
The Land Act 2021 mandates the formation of a commission for land management and resolution of land-related issues. It is expected that a new commission will be established shortly.
