House of Representatives Committee Endorses Bill Amending Constitutional Council Act
The State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives has endorsed a Bill to amend the Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Powers, and Procedures) Act-2066 BS. The Committee, chaired by Ramhari Khatiwada, approved the Bill with amendments after a prolonged delay due to a lack of consensus among political parties on the Council's decision-making procedures.
The newly endorsed provision allows the Constitutional Council to make decisions in meetings attended by the Council Chair and a 50 percent majority of the total members. This amendment aims to streamline the decision-making process within the Council, ensuring a more efficient and representative approach.
Additional discussions during the Committee meeting focused on the schedule, timing, location, and member attendance at Council meetings. The Bill introduces a provision requiring the Secretary to notify members of the meeting date, time, and venue through both physical letters and digital communications. Previously, notifications were to be sent at least 48 hours before the meeting, along with the agenda. The new provision also mandates that any member unable to attend must inform the Chair at least 24 hours in advance.
The Constitutional Council, established under Article 284 of the Constitution, comprises the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the National Assembly Chairperson, the leader of the major opposition party, and the Deputy Speaker, with the Prime Minister serving as Chair. The Council is responsible for recommending appointments for the Chief Justice and heads of Constitutional Bodies.
During the meeting, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, expressed her views on the Bill on behalf of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'. She emphasized that it is inappropriate to introduce provisions that could marginalize the executive and create a challenging environment for effective governance.
