After facing criticism from diplomats and experts, the parliament has decided to form a committee to amend a provision in the House of Representatives Regulations, which stated that the government had to nominate three persons for any ambassadorial position from among which the concerned parliamentary committee would pick one after the hearing.

A three-member committee including Ananda Bahadur Dhungana, Tek Bahadur Chokhyal and Mahendra Pandey, chief whips of Nepali Congress, NC-Democratic and CPN-UML respectively was formed by the HoR on Tuesday to “make timely amendment on some provisions of HoR Regulations 2063.”

The proposal to form such a committee was made by CPN-UML MP Parshu Ram Meghi Gurung and seconded by NC MP Ram Bahadur Bista.

Earlier, the HoR Regulation’s provision was widely lambasted by former ambassadors who said it could demoralize the nominees who fail the parliamentary test.

Even as 12 ambassadorial positions in important foreign missions such as in New Delhi and Washington remain vacant, the Foreign Affairs Ministry had been unable to appoint any ambassador in the last five months since the restoration of democracy. Foreign Minister KP Oli had cited ‘technical reasons’ for the inability of the government to appoint ambassadors referring to the provision of HoR Regulations.

Former ambassadors like Kedar Bhakta Mathema had termed the new provision as “ridiculous.”

Meanwhile, former ambassador and former chief of Institute of Foreign Studies, Mohan Lohani, termed the decision by the HoR to amend the provision as “positive.” He said he hoped that the government would be able to appoint ambassadors at key missions abroad soon after the amendment is formalized.