Agenda for National Assembly on Jestha 7: Presentation of Ordinances for Approval

Following editorial review, the National Assembly is set to advance a proposal on Jestha 7 to approve eight ordinances, including those related to public procurement, dismissal of public officials, and the Constitutional Council. Opposition parties have already registered notices demanding the rejection of these ordinances, with CPN-UML calling for the dismissal of all eight. The National Assembly has indicated that only after ordinance approval can the government introduce replacement bills.

On Jestha 2, Kathmandu: The parliamentary calendar of the National Assembly includes the agenda to present these ordinances for approval on Jestha 7. During the parliamentary recess, the government introduced several ordinances: the second amendment to the Public Procurement Ordinance; a special provision ordinance concerning the dismissal of public officials; the first amendment to the Constitutional Council (duties, functions, rights, and procedures) Ordinance; the third amendment to the Money Laundering Prevention Ordinance; the first amendment to various Nepali Cooperative Acts; amendments related to the Health Science Institute; and revisions pertaining to university legislation.

All these ordinances have been tabled in both houses of the federal parliament, the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. Both chambers must decide whether to approve or reject them. According to Article 114 of the Constitution, sub-section 2 (ka), “After issuance, ordinances must be presented to both houses of the Federal Parliament, and if not approved by both, they shall become void.” Accordingly, the National Assembly is preparing to submit these ordinances for decision on Jestha 7.

At the National Assembly, the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party is absent. The 59-member assembly’s largest party is the Nepali Congress with 24 seats, followed by CPN with 17, CPN-UML with 10, JSP with 2, LOSPA with 1, National People’s Front with 1, and 2 members nominated by the President.

Opposition parties have submitted notices demanding the ordinances be rejected. CPN-UML filed a notice requesting the rejection of all eight ordinances. The Nepali Communist Party has demanded rejection of four ordinances, while the Nepali Congress has sought the rejection of two ordinances, specifically those related to the Constitutional Council and amendments to certain Nepali Acts. The CPN has demanded the rejection of ordinances concerning the Constitutional Council, certain Nepali Act amendments, dismissal of public officials, and university-related legislation.

To decide on these matters, the National Assembly’s parliamentary calendar is set to present the ordinances for resolution on Jestha 7. Only after approval by both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly will the government be allowed to introduce the ordinance replacement bills.