KATHMANDU: The National Assembly meeting held on Thursday passed the first amendment to the Nepal Engineering Council Act. The House of Representatives already passed this Act on July 4. The Bill come into force after President put the seal on it within the next 30 days after its passing from the parliament.
According to the newly amended Act, registered engineers who violate or do not comply with the professional Code of Conduct will face a warning, get suspended for not being eligible to be involved in the engineering profession, and to the extent getting deregistered with the Council. The act has made it mandatory for any engineering student to register with the Council before engineering study. Previously, the council used to register the name of the engineering student who studied at the university registered with the council after submitting their certificate.
“However, now you cannot work as an engineer even after passing an engineering course,” said Ravibhushan Jha, general secretary of the Nepal Engineers Association.
According to the provision in the Act, the engineer must pass an exam examination by a committee of the Council. The engineering exam will be conducted twice a year. The committee will recommend to the council to register the names of the applicants who passed the exam.
The Act has granted authority to the council to make necessary regulations, procedures, guidelines, and standards without contradicting the rules.
The Act has made it mandatory for the council to submit a report to the government within the month of October of each year, including a brief description of the work carried out throughout the year, administrative expenses, details of income and expenditure and the program to be conducted in the future.