New Regulations Mandate Impeachment Proceedings Be Concluded Within Five Months

Kathmandu. Impeachment motions filed against officials of constitutional commissions and Supreme Court justices must now be concluded within five months.

Previously, impeachment motions were often stalled for extended periods; however, new regulations have been established to ensure they are resolved within a five-month timeframe.

The draft regulations for the House of Representatives' operations prevent impeachment motions from being indefinitely delayed. All proceedings regarding an impeachment motion must be finalized within a maximum of five months. Previously, the lack of a fixed deadline often left such motions undecided for months.

The 11-member 'Impeachment Recommendation Committee,' formed after a motion is filed, must submit its report within a maximum of three months from the date it begins its work.

The committee is also required to provide the accused individual with a seven-day opportunity to present their defense. If an impeachment motion is filed when less than five months remain in the House of Representatives' term and the process cannot be completed, the motion will be recorded for the next House formed after the new election. The new House must complete the remaining impeachment process and reach a decision within six months of taking office. This closes the loophole that previously allowed officials to avoid impeachment as their terms neared an end.

An impeachment motion against the President or Vice President must be passed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the total number of members currently serving in the House of Representatives. Once passed, the official is automatically removed from office. Similar provisions apply to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, justices, members of the Judicial Council, and heads or officials of constitutional bodies.

To register an impeachment motion, the signatures of one-fourth (1/4) of the total members currently serving in the House of Representatives are required. The regulations state that the grounds and reasons must be clearly specified when filing the motion.

According to Article 101, Clause 9 of the Constitution, an individual removed from office through impeachment will not be eligible for appointment or nomination to any public office in the future and will not be entitled to any benefits received while in office.

According to Article 101, Clause 9 of the Constitution, an individual removed from office through impeachment will not be eligible for appointment or nomination to any public office in the future and will not be entitled to any benefits received while in office.