President Returns Constitutional Council Ordinance for Reconsideration

Kathmandu. President Ramchandra Paudel has sent back the 'Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Rights and Procedures) (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2083' recommended by the government for reconsideration.

A press release issued by Spokesperson Riteshkumar Shakya of the Office of the President on Sunday stated that the President has sent back the ordinance, recommended as per the cabinet decision of Baishakh 14, for reconsideration of its subject matter.

President Paudel has made some previous developments and constitutional processes the main basis for sending back the ordinance. This includes the previous precedent of returning a bill. Earlier, on Asar 25, 2082, a bill to amend the Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Rights and Procedures) Act, 2066 was presented for authentication. At that time, the President had sent back the bill with a message, deeming it necessary to improve it.

Similarly, the President has also cited the situation where the previous ordinance was not issued as a reason for sending it back. The President recalled that the first amendment ordinance on the same subject, received through the decision of the then Council of Ministers on Mangsir 2, 2082, was also not issued.

The press release mentions that the President has sent it back for 'reconsideration' again this time, indicating that the messages and suggestions sent previously were not addressed or the subject matter was not taken seriously, despite proposals coming in the form of bills and ordinances on the same subject repeatedly.

Sources from the Office of the President said that the President took this step, keeping in mind the constitutional spirit and parliamentary process, after the government tried to bring an ordinance that would affect the appointments and procedures of the Constitutional Council.

With this, the government will now have to decide whether to keep the ordinance as it is, amend it, or proceed with it through the regular parliamentary process. The President has, however, issued 7 other ordinances sent by the government.