Congress Objects to Draft House Rules on MP Suspension

Kathmandu. The Nepali Congress has objected to the provision in the draft of the House of Representatives Rules of Procedure-2083 that MPs accused of corruption and money laundering will not be suspended.

Speaking at Monday's meeting of the House of Representatives, Congress Chief Whip Nischal Rai demanded that the controversial provisions of the draft rules, which contradict existing laws, be sent back to the committee.

Rule 247 (3) of the draft rules states that MPs will only be suspended if they are in detention for a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment of three years or more. Chief Whip Rai, who is also a member of the draft rules committee, accused the government side of ignoring her dissenting opinion in the committee based on a majority. "How can the parliament be above the constitution and the law?" she questioned.

Chief Whip Rai claimed that the controversial provisions of the rules directly contradict Section 33 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059, and Section 17 of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority Act, 2048. "I expressed a dissenting opinion on some issues in the House of Representatives Rules of Procedure Draft Committee, but the majority did not listen. I want to say clearly, the people of Ilam sent me here without blemish, I do not want to return with a stain," she said. Stating that this provision is against the spirit of democracy and the rule of law, she emphasized that the rules should be sent back to the draft committee without being tabled.

The ruling party, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has also been accused of preparing the draft rules in a way that would favor its party president Ravi Lamichhane and go against the established legal norms of the country. The opposition parties believe that bringing such a provision in the process of making the first law from the House of Representatives raises serious questions about the rule of law.