Kathmandu, July 10
KP Sharma Oli issued the same ordinance between 2019 and 2021 introducing changes in the rules of the operation of the Constitutional Council. The ordinance was never endorsed in parliament as the then main opposition Nepali Congress was against it.
Yet, Oli conducted the council meeting as per the ordinance and made some appointments. The appointments were challenged at the Supreme Court, and a decision is still pending.
While the Nepali Congress party led by Sher Bahadur Deuba protested the introduction of the ordinance every time, the Deuba-led government has recently registered a bill with similar provisions.
A bill to amend the Constitutional Council rules was tabled in the National Assembly last week.
Oli had reduced the number of people to present for a Constitutional Council meeting so that he could hold a meeting even when the then opposition leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota boycotted. In the same way, Deuba is trying to ease the process even when the opposition leader KP Sharma Oli and National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina would boycott it.
Here is the comparison.
| Section of the act | The provision in the act | Oli’s proposal then | Deuba’s proposal now |
| 6.3 | The quorum is defined as the chairperson (PM) and at least four other members. | The quorum is defined as the majority of the sitting members including the chairperson. | The quorum is defined as the chairperson and at least other 50 per cent of the sitting members. |
| 6.7 | A majority of all members are required to endorse a decision. | A decision is endorsed if the majority of the present members including the chairperson agree. | A decision is endorsed if the chairperson and 50 per cent of the sitting members endorse it. |
