House committee agrees to increase statute of limitation for rape cases to two years

Kathmandu / July 8: The Parliamentary Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights has agreed to extend the statute of limitation for rape cases by one year for adults and two years for minors.

The committee has agreed to extend the statute of limitation in the discussion on the bill to amend some laws against sexual violence. Women’s rights activists have been demanding the removal of the deadline to file complaints in rape cases.

According to the agreement reached by the committee, now any minor who has been raped can lodge a complaint after three years of age (having completed 18 years of age) i.e. till the age of 21 years. In the case of the adult, a complaint has to be lodged within two years of the incident.

Similarly, a provision has been made to file a complaint within two years and three months of being released from custody or abduction if raped while in custody or in abduction. The victims are also given three months to undergo medical treatment.

Likewise, people with disabilities, senior citizens and mentally retarded people can lodge a complaint within three years of the incident, said committee chairperson Krishna Bhakta Pokharel.