In a rare parliamentary practice, Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Thursday overruled the protest of the Nepali Congress MPs and ordered the House to get on with the day’s business whilst the opposition lawmakers remained standing from their seats—a gesture that otherwise would have led to session’s disruption.

The NC lawmakers had rose from their seats demanding that they be allowed some time to cross-question Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa soon after he finished responding to Parliament queries on the recent incident of rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl in Kanchanpur. The Speaker, however, refused to immediately grant the opposition lawmakers’ demand and urged them to take their seats, so the session could get on with other businesses of the day. Despite the Speaker telling the NC lawmakers that they would be allowed time to quiz Home Minister Thapa later, they did not heed his advice. The opposition MPs remained standing, hoping that the Speaker would adjourn the session.

Conventionally, the House is considered disrupted when a lawmaker stands from his/her seat. This did not happen on Thursday. Speaker Mahara ordered the House proceedings to continue. The NC lawmakers eventually walked out of Parliament Hall. Still, the opposition boycott failed to draw the Speaker’s attention.

 House proceedings have continued amid protests by the lawmakers of Madhes-centric parties in the past, but never has there been a precedent where a session has continued in absence of oppositon. This comes just days after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli instructed the lawmakers of Nepali Communist Party to ensure that Parliament proceedings are not obstructed on any pretexts. The next session will sit on Friday.