The government on Monday has formally decided to scrap military secretariat of stationed within the Narayanhiti royal palace.
The decision comes in a row of similar decisions to curtail royal powers and privileges.

State Minister for Information and Communications Dilendra Prasad Badu (Photo source : gorkhaptra.org.np)
Talking to reporters at the Prime Minister’s residence at Baluwatar after the meeting of the council of ministers this morning, Minister of State for Information and Communications, Dilendra Prasad Badu, said “security coordination office” under the Ministry of Defense will now take care of the security arrangements within the royal palace. The modalities of the new office will be decided by the ministry.

The proclamation by the House of Representatives (HoR) on May 18 stated to dismiss the secretariat making the government responsible for security arrangements of the palace. The secretariat used to monitor and control the overall security system of the palace in coordination with the army headquarters. Officials say around 3,000 security personnel—including military police– are stationed at the royal palace providing security to the royal family round the clock.

Earlier, the House of Representatives made a proclamation changing the name of the Royal Nepalese Army as ‘Nepali Army’ and scrapping the provision of ‘supreme commander-in-chief’ of the army. His Majesty the King used to hold the all powerful post.

Narayanhiti royal palace

Narayanhiti royal palace (File Photo)
In response to a query by a probe team formed to investigate into the royal palace massacre in 2001, then chief of the RNA, General Prajwolla Shumsher JB Rana, had said the RNA was not responsible for the security of the palace. He said it was the responsibility of the military secretariat within the palace .

State minister Badu told reporters this morning that the council of ministers also approved the bills on competition law, policy on biodiversity, travel and tourism, rafting policy and bill on good governance, among others, to be presented before the House of Representatives (HoR). Similarly, the provision of Labour Act to seize the license of manpower companies if they fail to send at least 50 persons in a year has been scrapped, he said.