Exceeding the Parliament-Secretariat’s recommendations, the Regulations Drafting Committee of the House of Representatives is preparing to have some nine thematic committees in the Lower House, on top of three joint committees having representatives from both the Houses of federal parliament.

In its recommendations, a team from the secretariat had proposed seven thematic committees for the HoR. However, cross-party representatives on the committee stand for exceeding the number arguing that seven would be inadequate as the number was suggested for 15 ministries. The number of ministries has now reached 21. Parliamentary committees are regarded as mini parliaments.

CPN (Maoist Centre) lawmaker Rekha Sharma said the committees would be more than the recommended number. The committees on Human Rights and Social Justice, Sustainable Development and Public Hearing will have representation from both the Houses.

Since the chairperson of such committees gets facilities equal to those enjoyed by a state minister, parties want to increase their numbers. “We’re preparing to complete the draft before the ongoing session of Parliament ends probably on March 5,” she told the Post. It will come into effect once the House endorses it with a majority.

As planned, lawmakers will get time to question the government before the House enters into business every day. Ministers will have to answer such queries within seven days. Some lawmakers have suggested requiring ministers to answer within three days.

Sharma said the prime minister will have to attend the House every Friday to answer parliamentarians’ queries. MPs will be allowed to argue if they are not satisfied with the PM’s answer. A similar provision for the PM to answer parliamentarians was included in the earlier regulation but it was not fully implemented.

The drafting committee has also agreed to cancelling the House meeting if it fails to start within two hours from schedule. This provision is aimed at ending the hassle for MPs of having to wait endlessly for the House meeting on a particular day.