Miscellaneous
NC-UML tussle delays rules
A festering dispute between the main opposition Nepali Congress and the ruling CPN-UML has delayed the finalisation of Parliament regulations, further pushing back the formation of Parliamentary Hearing Committee.A festering dispute between the main opposition Nepali Congress and the ruling CPN-UML has delayed the finalisation of Parliament regulations, further pushing back the formation of Parliamentary Hearing Committee.
The meeting of the Regulation Drafting Committee of Parliament could not be held on Sunday due to low turnout of lawmakers as the majority of NC and UCPN (Maoist) lawmakers remained absent. Only 13 out of 61 committee members were present—three short of the quorum required to convene a meeting.
“We decided to stay away from the meeting as only top leaders can resolve the issue now,” said NC lawmaker Nabindra Raj Joshi. “There is no possibility to find a meeting point unless the UML withdraws its stand on the size of the Hearing Committee.
The opposition, including the NC and other fringe parties, is in favour of the 73-member committee, while the UML-led ruling alliance insist on reducing its size as provisioned in the new constitution. The new charter envisages a 15-member committee comprising members from both the House of Representatives and National Assembly. The opposition parties are of the view that the 15-member committee cannot have representation of all the parties in the Legislature-Parliament. Currently there are 31 parties including two independent lawmakers.
The ruling parties, however, maintain that as Article 296 has authorised current Parliament to conduct all the activities under the prerogative of the Federal Legislature until the elections are conducted, the Hearing Committee must follow the constitutional provision.
UML lawmakers claim the NC is delaying the process as a revenge against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s decision to reject Ram Prasad Sitaula as the member of the Judicial Council.
“Now, NC is taking the revenge by delaying the finalisation process,” said UML lawmaker Rewati Raman Bhandari, while ruling out the possibility of a draft regulation before two weeks.
The ruling party also blame committee Chairman Radheshyam Adhikari, who represents the NC in Parliament, for not doing enough to resolve the issue. The committee chairman can exercise his voting right to make a decision if problem persists. The term of the committee, which was set up six months ago, has already been extended for the fourth time. Adhikari claims that the draft will be finalised before a new session of Parliament. The new session is likely to be called between March 31 to April 2.
Dispute has surfaced between judiciary and Speaker Onshari Gharti after she returned the names of justice nominees to the Judicial Council, citing the absence of Parliamentary Hearing Committee.
The Article 292 of the Constitution of Nepal makes it mandatory for Parliamentary hearing of chief justice, justices of the Supreme Court, members of Judicial Council, head or official of constitutional bodies and ambassadors prior to their appointment.