Article 273: Emergency power

1) If a grave emergency arises in regard to the sovereignty, territorial integrity of Nepal or the security of any part thereof, by war, external aggression, armed rebellion, extreme economic disarray, natural calamity or epidemic, the President may declare or order a state of emergency in respect of the whole of Nepal or of any specified part thereof.

2) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (1), if a grave emergency arises in a State by a natural calamity or epidemic, the concerned State Government may request the Government of Nepal to declare or order a state of emergency in respect of the whole of the State or of any specified part thereof, in accordance with this Article.

3) Every declaration or order made in accordance with clause (1) shall be laid before both Houses of the Federal Parliament for approval within one month after the date of issuance of such proclamation or order.

4) If a declaration or order laid for approval in accordance with clause (3) is approved by at least two-thirds majority of the total number of the then members of both Houses of the Federal Parliament, the declaration or order shall continue in force for a period of three months from the date of its issuance.

5) If a declaration or order laid for approval in accordance with clause (3) is not approved in accordance with clause (4), the declaration or order shall ipso facto be inoperative.

6) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Article, prior to the expiration of the period mentioned in clause (4), a motion to extend the period of the declaration or order of state of emergency as mentioned in clause (1) for another period not exceeding three months may be submitted to the Federal Parliament.

7) If a motion mentioned in clause (6) is passed by at least two-thirds majority of the total number of the then members of both Houses of the Federal Parliament, the declaration or order shall continue in force for the period mentioned in that motion.

8) In the event of dissolution of the House of Representatives, the powers exercisable by the Federal Parliament in accordance with clauses (3), (4), (6) and (7) shall be exercised by the National Assembly.

9) After the making of a declaration or order of a state of emergency in accordance with clause (1), the President may issue such orders as are necessary to meet the exigencies. Orders so issued shall apply as of law so long as the state of emergency is in operation.

10) At the time of making a declaration or order of a state of emergency in accordance with clause (1), the fundamental rights as provided in Part 3 may be suspended until the declaration or order is in operation.

Provided that Article 16, sub-clauses (c) and (d) of clause (2) of Article 17, Article 18, clause (2) of Article 19, Articles 20, 21, 22 and 24, clause (1) of Article 26, Articles 29, 30, 31, 32, 35, clauses (1) and (2) of Article 36, Articles 38 and 39, clauses (2) and (3) of Article 40, Articles 41, 42, 43 and 45, the right to constitutional remedy in relation to such Articles pursuant to Article 46 and the right to seek the remedy of habeas corpus shall not be suspended.

11) If any Article of this Constitution is suspended pursuant to clause (10), no petition may lie in any court for the enforcement of the fundamental right conferred by that Article, nor may a question be raised in any Court in that respect.

12) If, during the continuance of a declaration or order under this Article, any injury is caused to a person from any act done by any official in bad faith, the victim may, within three months from the date of termination of that declaration or order, file a petition for compensation for such injury. If such a petition is filed, the court may order compensation and punish the perpetrator as provided by federal law.

13) The President may, at any time, withdraw a declaration or order of a state of emergency made in accordance with this Article.