Kathmandu, October 30
The Parliamentary Hearing Committee has called a meeting to decide on the nomination of Jigyan Kumar Thapa as Nepal’s proposed ambassador to Japan.
According to the committee secretariat, the meeting has been scheduled for 3 pm next Monday at Singha Durbar to make a decision on Thapa’s nomination.
The parliamentary hearing for the proposed ambassador was held on October 14.
However, the committee made no decision on Thapa’s nomination that day, citing unsatisfactory responses to questions raised during the hearing and a lack of necessary information.
Questions were raised about Thapa’s renunciation of his permanent residency (PR) status in Japan, his family members’ PR status, his ownership of a house and other property in Japan, his receipt of a salary from a Japanese government agency, and his role as an adviser to a local government body there. Complaints raising these issues had also been filed with the committee.
During the hearing, Thapa said he had already renounced his PR status in Japan. However, lawmakers questioned him about Article 291 of the Constitution and the timing of his renunciation.
To clarify these matters, the parliamentary committee sought information from the Japanese government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry also requested the details from the Japanese government through Nepal’s embassy.
However, the Japanese government has yet to respond to the letter sent through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The committee meeting has been called despite the response remaining pending.
On September 18, the government recommended 13 people, including Thapa, for ambassadorial appointments. The committee invited complaints against the proposed ambassadors on September 25. Following the complaints and parliamentary hearings, it made decisions on the nominations of 12 candidates on October 14.
In Thapa’s case, the committee decided to seek additional information and put on hold its decision on whether to endorse his nomination.
During the hearing, Thapa said he had renounced his PR status. However, he acknowledged that his wife still held PR status in Japan and owned a house there in her name.
Questions have also been raised over a possible conflict of interest, given that Thapa lived and worked in Japan for a long time and acquired property there. The committee has sought the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ opinion on this matter as well.
The committee plans to make a decision by November 5 after receiving the ministry’s opinion. November 5 marks 45 days since the committee received the names of the nominees.
Under Article 292 of the Constitution, parliamentary hearings are mandatory before the appointment of the chief justice, Supreme Court justices, members of the Judicial Council, heads and officials of constitutional bodies, and ambassadors.
For this purpose, a 15-member Parliamentary Hearing Committee comprising members of both houses of the Federal Parliament has been formed. It includes 12 members from the House of Representatives and three from the National Assembly.
However, the committee cannot prolong the hearing process indefinitely. Rule 25(2) of the Joint Committee (Conduct of Business) Regulations, 2023, requires the committee to conduct a hearing and send its decision to the concerned body within 45 days of receiving a nominee’s name.
If the committee fails to make a decision within 45 days, the nominee is automatically deemed to have been approved, clearing the way for their appointment.
The 45-day deadline expires on November 5. The committee is therefore scheduled to meet before the deadline to decide on Thapa’s nomination.
