Cabinet approves HoR proclamation
The meeting of the council of ministers Thursday has approved the draft of a ‘political proclamation’ that aims to make the reinstated House of Representatives the 'supreme authority' to exercise 'sovereign power' on behalf of the Nepalis people.
A meeting of the council of ministers that took place at the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar Thursday morning unanimously approved the Proclamation.
Talking to journalists after the meeting, Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Gopal Man Shrestha, said that the cabinet meeting has approved the proclamation.
He further said that the cabinet meeting made some improvements in the draft prepared by the taskforce of the seven party alliance, adding, “The cabinet did not make any major changes in the Proclamation, which has been prepared as per the people’s aspiration.”
Minister for Land Reforms and Management Prabhu Narayan Chaudhari told reporters that Proclamation had been prepared to make the people sovereign.
When asked about delay in the cabinet expansion, Chaudhari said that the cabinet would take full shape soon.
Highlights of the declaration include scrapping the provision of Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Nepalese Army by His Majesty the King.
The name of the army, too, will be changed to “Nepal National Army”. Next is dissolution of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee. From now on, parliament will take care of the job done by the Raj Parishad-- a royal advisory body.
The proclamation has also scrapped provisions giving the monarch discretionary powers in certain cases. From now on, the monarch will not have any authority to enact the law concerning royal succession, which will be done by the parliament.
The proclamation will also impose tax on the income and properties of the King and his family, according to reports.
The proclamation also proposed to replace “His Majesty’s Government” with “Nepal Government”.
Similarly, while the cabinet will appoint the army chief, mobilisation of the army will be done as per the decision of the cabinet. However, that will have to be approved by the stipulated parliamentary committee.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is to table the proclamation in the House to be be endorsed by the MPs.
The proclamation was delayed on Monday, as leaders failed to arrive at a consensus regarding some proposals.
The delay triggered sporadic violent protests on Tuesday in Kathmandu but the situation returned to normalcy with assurances from the Home Minister Krishna Sitaula that the proclamation would be tabled at the regular session of the House of Representatives on Thursday.
The state-run Nepal Television will broadcast Thursday's House session live. nepalnews.com pb May 18 06
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