Pramila Aryal Calls for Transparency in Parliamentary Hearings

Kathmandu. CPN (UML) Parliamentary Party Deputy Leader Padam Aryal has said that the details of the persons proposed for parliamentary hearings should not be confined only to the committee but should be made public in time. She expressed this view during a discussion on the internal preparations for the upcoming hearings at the Parliamentary Hearing Committee meeting on Wednesday. Deputy Leader Aryal said that making the details of individuals public would lead to further suggestions and feedback from the general public, making the process more credible and increasing transparency in the hearing process. She emphasized the need to develop the parliamentary hearing process as an effective mechanism to enhance public trust, rather than limiting it to mere formality. Stating that the current hearing process has not gained sufficient public trust, she said that the committee should study international best practices to establish its distinct identity and make its working methods more effective. She proposed conducting an orientation program for committee members by studying parliamentary hearing practices of various countries and with the participation of experts. She said in the meeting, 'We need to have a good discussion on whether to limit the hearing to formality or to give it a distinct identity. Otherwise, the procedure has already stated how we will proceed, so there is not much to say. Let's conduct a discussion on how our parliamentary hearing committees proceed, how activities move forward, and how recommendations are made, by incorporating international and our best practices, and by having experts involved in an orientation training or familiarization program for the committee.' She added, 'Otherwise, it will be limited to one honorable member responding to another. I see the need for an orientation program for our committee, linked to our international practices. Some of us are new, some are old. Second, let's make public the details of the person whose hearing we are going to conduct. Let's not limit ourselves to finishing within a certain minute or hour in haste, but let's make a provision for making them public.' Deputy Leader Aryal pointed out the need for the committee to focus on practical improvements along with the procedures to establish parliamentary hearings as an effective mechanism for enhancing public trust, accountability, and transparency. She also stated that the committee should take initiative to activate embassies for solving the problems of Nepalis living abroad. For that, she suggested calling ambassadors to the committee through virtual meetings and giving necessary instructions after discussions.