Nepali Congress Spokesperson Devraj Chalise Criticizes Constitutional Council Ordinance

Kathmandu. Nepali Congress spokesperson Devraj Chalise has stated that the 'Constitutional Council (Work, Duties, Rights and Procedures) (First Amendment) Ordinance 2083' has seriously attacked the fundamental philosophy of power balance of the constitution. Spokesperson Chalise said that no simple technical amendment has been made in the ordinance.

'The ordinance related to the Constitutional Council brought by the government is not a simple technical amendment. It has seriously attacked the fundamental philosophy of power balance of the constitution,' spokesperson Chalise wrote on social media Facebook. Chalise mentioned that in a democracy, no one is above the constitution, and the constitution has not made the prime minister a decisive king.

'In a democracy, no one is above the constitution. The constitution has made the prime minister a responsible coordinator, not a decisive king. But what is happening here?' Chalise wrote.

He also questioned the rationale of including the leader of the opposition, the speaker, and the chief justice in the council by creating a situation where the prime minister and his two favorable members can make constitutional appointments alone.

'According to the provision, the presence of four people including the chairman is sufficient and three people can make decisions, which has created a situation where the prime minister and his two favorable members can make constitutional appointments alone,' Chalise wrote, 'If this happens, what is the rationale of including the leader of the opposition, the speaker, and the chief justice in the council? Is their participation for balance or just for formal decoration?'

Chalise stated that bodies like the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Election Commission, Public Service Commission, Human Rights Commission, and Supreme Courts are independent bodies of the state, not followers of the government. Chalise also said that the reason for making the appointment process of these institutions multi-faceted is so that no single power can capture these organs.