The much awaited draft regulations that seeks to further curtail the king’s privileges and ensure sweeping power to the parliament was tabled at the House of Representatives (HoR) Wednesday.

House of Representativesl (File Photo)
Nepal Peasants and Workers Party (NWPP) chairman Narayan Man Bijukchhe, who headed a 13-member drafting committee, tabled the HoR regulations.

The draft proposes to do away with the concept of “king in parliament” adopted by the constitution of the 1990. If ratified, which is certain, the King will no more be a part of the parliament and the provision to send legislatures passed by the HoR to the Royal Palace for royal seal will become void.

As per the proposal, bills passed by the House will become law after certification by the speaker. Similarly, instead of the King, the Prime Minister will be presenting the policies and programs to the parliament while parliament sessions will be called by the speaker at the recommendation of the Prime Minister and the speaker can also end the session.

The proposal states that provisions regarding the appointment of heir to the throne will be as per separate laws to be formulated by the House.

A 19-member Special Security Committee will take decisions regarding the mobilization of the Nepali Army on the proposal of the Prime Minister, the proposal states. Earlier, matters related to the army’s mobilisation will be looked after by the Security Council.

Likewise, the appointment of heads of constitutional bodies and diplomatic missions will be made by the government with approval from an all-party parliamentary committee. Earlier, approval of the King was mandatory for such appointments.

The special committee will comprise of the Prime Minister, speaker, deputy speaker, defence minister, finance minister, foreign affairs minister, law and parliamentary affairs minister, leader of the main opposition party and representatives of various political parties representing in the House.

Presenting the regulations at the House, NWPP leader Bijukchhe said the proposal aims to establish parliamentary supremacy in line with the people’s movement and the parliamentary declaration of May 18.