Parliamentary Committee Recommends Speaker Exercise Special Powers

Kathmandu. The committee formed to investigate the incident of May 17 in the House of Representatives has suggested that Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal exercise his special powers. The committee has suggested implementing provisions such as removing such expressions from parliamentary records and even expelling them from the meeting by effectively implementing the rules in cases where unparliamentary and provocative words are used.

The committee has suggested that the MPs themselves, the Federal Parliament Secretariat, and the Speaker should take seriously the matter of fully adhering to and ensuring adherence to the code of conduct and rules mentioned in the rules of procedure of the House of Representatives by the MPs.

Similarly, the committee has suggested enhancing awareness regarding orientation and code of conduct, making the role of party leadership and chief whips effective, improving security and technology management, emulating international best practices, activating the conduct monitoring committee, strengthening the manpower and technology of the Parliament Secretariat, enhancing the internal discipline and accountability of political parties, organizing the precedent management, CCTV surveillance and record management, and further enhancing the effectiveness of the Business Advisory Committee's proactivity and administrative facilitation.

Speaker Aryal had formed an investigation committee in the meeting of the House of Representatives held on May 18 to investigate the incident that occurred on May 17. The committee included Prakash Adhikari, Secretary of the House of Representatives, as the coordinator, and Babita Mishra, Head of the Internal Resources and Planning Management Division, and Gopal Sigdel, Head of the Technology Management Division, as members.

The committee prepared the report by studying the on-site survey, collecting audio-visual evidence, taking statements from eyewitnesses, and analyzing related documents. The committee was given seven days to submit the report. The committee submitted a preliminary report to Speaker Aryal on May 25.

The committee concluded that parliamentary dignity was violated in the incident, there were weaknesses in the implementation of the rules, there was a lack of restraint, and managerial challenges existed.