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“Romeo and Juliet laws,” also known as “close-in-age exemptions,” are legal provisions designed to protect young people from prosecution for consensual sexual relationships with peers close in age. Named after Shakespeare’s tragic lovers, these laws aim to differentiate between predatory behavior and mutual relationships, shielding young individuals from harsh legal consequences.

The objective of such laws is to de-stigmatize consensual teenage relationships and prevent young people from enduring life-altering penalties for age-related legal technicalities.

Context in Nepal

Laws setting an age of consent for sexual activity are unique in that they can render a child both a victim and an offender based solely on age. In Nepal, The National Penal Code, 2017, Section 20, states that consent may be expressed verbally, in writing, or through gestures or conduct. However, the consent of a person below 18 years is not legally recognized.

This provision was introduced to safeguard minors, acknowledging that children may lack the emotional, psychological, and social maturity to understand the consequences of sexual activity. Section 219 of the same code stipulates that if a man engages in sexual intercourse with a girl under 18, even with her consent, it is considered rape. Unfortunately, this law overlooks the protection of young boys below 18 years, leaving them vulnerable to prosecution even in consensual relationships with peers or older individuals.

For example, if a 16-year-old boy engages in consensual sexual activity with an 18-year-old girl, the boy may face charges of statutory rape while the girl does not. This creates a significant legal imbalance. Furthermore, in a society like Nepal, where early marriages and relationships are still prevalent and digital platforms have made romantic connections more accessible, such scenarios are increasingly common.

Need for a Romeo and Juliet Law

A Romeo and Juliet law is essential in Nepal to address these gaps in the legal system. Such a law would:

Protect individuals close in age: Typically, these laws apply when the age gap is two to four years, ensuring young adults or older minors are not penalized for consensual relationships with peers.

Decriminalize consensual acts: The law would safeguard teens from being labeled as offenders when engaging in consensual relationships free from coercion or exploitation.

Prevent life-altering consequences: Being branded as a sex offender can severely impact education, employment, and reputation. This law would mitigate such outcomes for consensual acts among peers.

Limitations of Romeo and Juliet Law

Despite their benefits, these laws have limitations:

Age gap restrictions: Protection is limited to relationships within a specific age gap (e.g., 2–4 years). Larger gaps may still result in statutory rape charges.

Minimum age requirements: Relationships involving individuals below a certain age (e.g., 14–16) are generally not covered.

Exclusion of non-consensual acts: These laws do not protect cases involving coercion, manipulation, or exploitation, which remain punishable under the law.

International practices

Globally, Romeo and Juliet laws have been implemented with varying scopes:

Canada: The age of consent is 16, but exemptions exist for minors aged 12–15 engaging in consensual activity with someone close in age.

United Kingdom: While no formal law exists, prosecutors often consider the context before charging minors in consensual relationships.

India: In the Vijayalakshmi vs State case, the Madras High Court recommended amendments to protect adolescents in consensual relationships under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.

Call for reform in Nepal

The current legal framework in Nepal fails to distinguish between consensual relationships among peers and predatory acts. This disproportionately penalizes young boys while overlooking their rights to equality under the Constitution of Nepal. The absence of a Romeo and Juliet law exacerbates this imbalance, leaving Nepal’s youth vulnerable to severe and unjust consequences.

Drawing from international practices, it is clear that such laws strike a balance between protecting minors and acknowledging the realities of teenage relationships. Nepal must follow suit by introducing a well-crafted Romeo and Juliet law to ensure fairness, protect youth, and address the changing dynamics of relationships in today’s society.

Conclusion

In a rapidly evolving social landscape, laws must adapt to address emerging challenges. A Romeo and Juliet law in Nepal would safeguard minors from unjust penalties for consensual relationships while maintaining robust protections against exploitation. It is time for Nepal to recognize this need and ensure its legal system promotes fairness, equality, and protection for its youth.

Abinesh Adhikari

BA LLB 5th Year

Kathmandu School of Law

Annapurna Media Network General Manager Manoj Basnet has been honored with “Community Media Award 2025” from America.

On the occasion of its first anniversary, The Triveni Times, which is being operated from New York, USA, honored seven journalists with “Community Media Award 2025” including Basnet.

They were honored with the award amidst a ceremony held in New York for playing an instrumental role to connect the media to the community, according to The Triveni Times.

Along with the award, New York State Assembly Member Jennifer Rajkumar's Office also provided a certificate of appreciation to them.

Manoj Basnet of Annapurna Media Network from Nepal, Manzoor Hussain of Dunya International and Global TV USA, Harpreet Singh Toor of Main Stream Media, Samrat Karki of Hello America, Lovlu Ansar of Bangladesh Pration, Yiyi Ji of The China Press and Dave Llavanes of GMA Network INC are among those who were honored with the award.

“Basnet, who is leading the Nepali media industry, has been playing a vital role to connect the media and the community,” The Triveni Times operator Nawaraj KC said during an award ceremony program, adding, “He has been doing greatly exemplary works in connecting the media and the community through Annapurna Media Network, Nepal’s trusted media house.

“At the same time, Annapurna Media Network has been playing an important role to connect the American communities of Nepali origin living in America, which is commendable in itself,” KC said.

He further said that Basnet was selected for the “Community Media Award 2025” for his consistent performance in connecting the media and the community.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said that achieving economic prosperity is one of the priorities of the incumbent government.

In his address to a press meet organized by the Nepal Press Union in Mahendranagar today, the Home Minister said the Nepali Congress-CPN-UML government aims to achieve economic prosperity, good governance, durable peace and accelerate the mission for development and prosperity.

"The two major political parties formed the coalition government for bringing political stability and durable peace in the nation," the Minister who represented the NC in the government said.

He took time to say that the government is preparing for summoning the Parliament session soon. "Once the winter session of the Parliament convenes, the first day is expected to see the presentations of recently issued ordinances which will be later replaced by laws."

He urged one and all to be confident that the government will last until the upcoming general elections to take place in 2084 BS. "We have no issues at all."

The Home Minister said the government is committed to addressing issues regarding the construction of a bridge over the Mahakali River and building a dry port in Dodhara Chandani soon.

As Maha Kumbh began in Prayagraj at the holy confluence of the revered Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers, the largest religious congregation on Earth is anticipated to generate more than Rs 4 lakh crore in trade in a significant boost to India's economy, The South Asian Times reported.

As per industry estimates, Maha Kumbh is expected to boost both nominal and real GDP by over 1 percent. The Uttar Pradesh government expects approximately 40 crore visitors, both domestic and international, to attend the event.

According to government estimates, Maha Kumbh may generate Rs 2 lakh crore in trade if each of 40 crore visitors spends an average of Rs 5,000.

Industry estimates further say that the average expenditure per person could rise to even Rs 10,000 at the mega event, and the total economic impact could reach Rs 4 lakh crore.

Meanwhile, companies from India as well as abroad are fighting for space to showcase their presence during the 45-day event.

From fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) to pharma sectors, from mobility providers to digital payments platforms, companies have loosened their marketing purse strings, and are set to spend more than Rs 3,000 crore on branding and marketing at Maha Kumbh, according to industry experts.

Public sector giant Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has supplied approximately 45,000 tonnes of steel for the construction of various structures at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, according to The South Asian Times.

The steel supplied by the company includes chequered plates, hot strip mill plates, mild steel plates, angles and joists, according to a statement issued by the Maharatna company.

Prayagraj has undergone a major makeover ahead of the biggest congregation of the followers of Sanatan Dharma. More than 200 roads have been constructed and upgraded, ensuring seamless connectivity for millions of devotees likely to attend the grand spiritual gathering. The roads have been beautified by placing over 3 lakh plants and 1 lakh horticultural samplings, enhancing their visual appeal.

The public debt till mid-January of the current fiscal year has exceeded Rs 2,536 billion.

According to the Public Debt Management Office, Nepal's total public debt has exceeded 44 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In the past six months, Rs 102 billion has been added to the public debt.

At the beginning of the current fiscal year that commenced on July 16, the size of public debt was Rs 2, 434 billion 90 million and it rose by Rs 102 billion 30 million to reach Rs 2, 536 billion 130 million by January 15, the Office said in its report.

 This constitutes 44.46 per cent of the GDP.  The contribution of foreign debt to the total public debt is 51.31 percent amounting to Rs 1301 billion 410 million while the ratio of external debt to the GDP is 22.81 percent.

The Office said that of the total public debt, the internal debt liability amounts to 48.68 percent or Rs 1234 billion 714 million while on the basis of the GDP, this is 21.64 percent and the external debt makes up 22.81 percent.

The government had the target of raising public debt of Rs 547 billion in the current fiscal year (2082-82 BS) and it has raised Rs 240 billion 80 million or 43.89 per cent of the annual target by mid-January or the first half-yearly of the current fiscal.

The government had the target of raising Rs 330 billion as the internal debt in the current fiscal year and it has raised Rs 181 billion 50 million or 54.86 percent.

Similarly, the government has the target of mobilizing Rs 217 billion in external loans and until January 15, it raised Rs 59 billion 30 million or 27.20 million.

 The government had allocated Rs 402 billion 850 million budget for reimbursement of the principal and interest of the public debt in the current fiscal year.

Principal and interest worth Rs 182 billion 400 million has been paid by mid-January, the Office stated in its report. The expenditure made for paying the principal and interest until January 15 is 3.20 percent of the total GDP.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 800 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 157, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 157, 900 per tola on Friday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 860 per tola today.

Lumbini, the birthplace of Sakyamuni Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a sacred sanctuary for Buddhists and spiritual seekers worldwide. Beyond its religious roots, the Greater Lumbini Area offers an array of unique experiences through history, archaeology and natural beauty. Yet, this treasure trove struggles to reach its full potential as a global destination.

Today, countries like Thailand, Bhutan, and Srilanka attract hundreds of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims and tourists, while Lumbini sees just about 1m visitors a year. The challenges lie in infrastructure. Although there has been a surge in hotels across Lumbini, the region still falls short in offering comprehensive facilities beyond basic stay. Modern tourists not only want to visit the birthplace of Buddha but also, they seek for extended stays enriched with engaging activities, better facilities, and a well-rounded experience.

Lumbini and its surrounding areas are home to ruins dating back as far as the 11th century BCE to the 3rd century CE, alongside other sites such as Tilaurakot, Kudan, Gotihawa, Niglihawa, Araurakot, Sagarhawa, and Ramagrama. These sites hold profound connections to the life of the Buddhas and the evolution of Buddhism. Additionally, the region is remarkable for being the birthplace of the three Buddhas of Bhadrakalpa—Kanakamuni, Krakuchhanda, and Gautama Buddha. However, the lack of accessible information and proper guidance for tourists diminishes the potential of these historical and spiritual places.

There is an urgent need for effective marketing campaigns to highlight the essence of Lumbini and its sites. Many visitors remain unaware of the rich stories and spiritual significance behind the monuments scattered across the region. Developing meditation retreats, promoting outdoor activities, and offering cultural immersion programs could transform Lumbini into a holistic tourism center.

We cannot afford to wait for another ‘Visit Nepal’ campaign to spotlight Lumbini’s potential. It’s essential to focus now on establishing Lumbini as a truly iconic destination.

We have been together for three years now and we are planning to get married. But we often find ourselves arguing over finances and that is creating a strain in our relationship. What are some effective strategies for us to address financial disagreements without harming our relationship?

Answered by Rika Rijal, consultant psychiatrist

It’s great that you’re proactively seeking strategies to address financial disagreements. Money can be a sensitive topic, but with open communication and a shared approach, it can become a source of strength in your relationship. 

First and foremost, open and honest communication with your partner is the key. Schedule a time to discuss finances when both of you are calm and focused. It’s important that you both understand each other’s money mindset. Explore each other’s attitudes toward saving, spending, and financial priorities. Recognize that differences in financial attitudes often stem from upbringing and personal experiences, not from a lack of care or responsibility.

Plan on setting common goals. Identify short-term and long-term financial goals together, such as saving for a wedding, buying a home, or planning for retirement. Align your spending and saving habits with these shared goals. Also, learn and discuss about creating a budget together. Work together to draft a monthly budget that accounts for income, expenses, savings, and discretionary spending. Use tools like apps or spreadsheets to track expenses and ensure transparency.

Divide financial responsibilities. Decide how to split expenses—whether equally, proportionally to income, or another method that feels fair to both. Assign roles for managing specific aspects of finances, like paying bills, monitoring investments, or managing savings. It’s important to understand that you must agree on a threshold for discretionary spending that doesn’t require prior consultation (e.g., purchases over a certain amount need mutual agreement). This helps avoid surprises and builds trust between each other. Schedule monthly discussions to review your budget, discuss progress toward goals, and address any concerns. Treat these meetings as collaborative rather than confrontational.

If financial planning feels overwhelming, consult a financial advisor to help you create a plan. A neutral third party can offer objective insights and strategies. Acknowledge and validate each other’s financial priorities, even if they differ. Compromise when and where necessary to ensure both partners feel heard and valued.

Remind yourselves of why you’re together and the life you’re building as a couple. Avoid letting financial disagreements overshadow your relationship’s positive aspects. For those couples who are planning to get married or stay together, it’s important to be honest with each other. Talk about your financial expectations even before marriage or companionship. Share your financial histories, including how you were raised to think about money, your current financial situation, and your future goals. Be transparent about your income, debts, and spending habits.

Approach disagreements with empathy and a willingness to understand, rather than with the intention to win the argument. A therapist can help you address underlying issues and develop better communication and conflict resolution skills. By working as a team and prioritizing your relationship over financial disputes, you can build a stronger foundation for your future together.