The government has made a National Identity card (NID) mandatory to buy a new SIM card in Nepal among many others. Issuing a notice in Nepal Gazette (Rajpatra) on Tuesday, Ashar 11, the government made NID necessary for various essential services such as banking and financial, telephone and SIM card, social security funds, property buying and selling, etc.
Likewise, the Supreme Court has dismissed a writ demanding to cancel mandatory requirement of the NID for various services, the law now comes into effect unopposed.
On Sunday, Magh 07 2081, a full bench of Supreme Court Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut and Justices Abdul Aziz Musalman and Nripadhwaj Niraula today dismissed the writ and issued a directive order in the name of the government. This now lets the government to enforce the mandatory need for the NID card to receive various services including buying a new SIM card.
Earlier, the government notified that the National ID card must be produced for buying SIM cards and other services mentioned above from Magh 01, 2081. The government introduced the ruling in accordance with Section 3 and Section 10 of the National Identity Card and Vital Registration Act, 2076 BS. With the writ getting dismissed, the government will work on its effective implementation sooner than later.
Now, National Identity cards will be necessary in the place of citizenship to provide or demand public services from government or private organizations. Likewise, just a National ID number would also suffice equally in this case. This makes it easy for those who have got their unique NID number but not the physical document.
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Need for a National Identity Card to buy a SIM card in Nepal
As of now, submitting a copy of a citizenship would help get a SIM card. However, the new ruling seems to replace the need for a citizenship copy with a smart National ID card to buy a SIM card in Nepal. Click for details: How to Buy a SIM Card in Nepal for Locals and Tourists?
In the notice, the government stated that National ID cards will be necessary across Nepal for banking and financial services, telephone and SIM cards, social security fund, and property buy/sell.
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Will mandatory NID make life hard for the citizens?
And while this seems to be a new way of life for Nepalese, it could cause difficulty for many. Still, the majority of the citizens don’t have their National Identity Card. In such a scenario, making it mandatory for various essential services could pose a problem or two.
The government though is making it flexible for citizens that they could just have a NID number if they can’t produce a physical copy. That is still a good gesture from the government. Each Department of National Identity Card and Civil Registration across the country now has an arrangement to process NID cards. Besides DAO in Kathmandu is providing NID cards via temporary camps too.
It’s also possible to check the status of the NID through the portal of the NID and Civil Registration Department. The governmetn has instructed banks and financial institutions to facilitate customers in opening bank accounts by obtaning information about customers’ NID number through the department’s portal.
When it comes in implementation?
The supreme court’s act of dismissing the writ upholds the government’s decision that NID is a must for multiple public services. However, it will take some time for a complete and all Nepal implementation. It was supposed to take effect from Magh 01, 2081, but still, more people will need to have this document for the law to become meaningful. Therefore, it might take some in practicality to fully embrace the mandatory NID ruling.
How do you perceive the Nepal government making National Identity Card a must to get a SIM card? Is it justifiable in the current scenario? Do offer your opinion in the comment section below.
