HoR regulations tabled

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.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

Mainwhile Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday accused the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) of implicating Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in amassing property disproportionate to his income without any ground. They also said that the anti-graft body gave Koirala a clean chit without divulging the details.The MPs were speaking in a programme 'Ratification of UN Convention Against Corruption' organised by REMAC, Nepal, in the capital."The CIAA should make it clear on what ground it accused our leader and why it is not giving details about its so-called clean chit," MP Ram Nath Adhikary said. He also accused the anti-graft body of being a weapon of the King during his direct rule and implicating other political leaders in corruption.

Adhikary also demanded the CIAA take action against ministers of the royal cabinet, including Dr Tulsi Giri and Kamal Thapa, who "misused" the state treasury.MPs Govinda Bahadur Shah and Shiv Basnet also accused the CIAA of implicating leaders in corruption during the King's rule without strong evidence. They further said the CIAA did not do much to check corruption during the King's rule.MP Bharat Kumar Shah said the CIAA should make public the reasons for launching investigations against political leaders. He also demanded an appropriate mechanism to take action against corrupt officials of the judiciary, army and the police.MP NP Saud called upon the CIAA to prove whether its action against the leaders was just.MPs Raghuji Pant and Chitra Bahadur KC said political commitment and tough laws are needed to curb corruption.

Chief Commissioner of the CIAA, Surya Nath Upadhayay, however, said the CIAA commissioners are ready to face the State Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives on the issue. "We have prepared a report on the investigations and we are ready to submit it if it wants," he said.Upadhayay also said the CIAA had investigated high-ranking politicians following recommendation from the high-level judicial probe commission. He added that the CIAA had faced difficulties during the King's direct rule. He said the CIAA should not be condemned as as it is an autonomous body.