Ordinances await parliament’s nod

KATHMANDU, DEC 20 -

A flurry of legislative activity awaits the newly elected Constituent Assembly, for there are at least 15 ordinances issued by the government in the absence of parliament that need formal approval.

Although the constitution requires such ordinances to be tabled in parliament within six months of their issuance, sources said this provision would not be applicable this time around.

Some of the important ordinances needing parliamentary nod are for Mutual Legal Assistance, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Extradition Treaty and Anti-Money Laundering Act. These ordinances are likely to stir debate in the parliament.

The Supreme Court has already stayed the decision to implement the ordinance pertaining to the TRC formation after some rights groups protested the provision that could grant blanket amnesty for the crimes committed during the conflict period. TRC had become one of the most controversial issues in the previous CA. The political parties are preparing to include TRC formation as part of a larger political deal this time, so that it does not become a hindrance in the constitution drafting process.

Equally contentious are the ordinances related to Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition Treaty.

 “We’re set to table the ordinances in the new parliament as required by Article 88 of the Interim Constitution,” said Tek Prasad Dhungana, spokesman for the Ministry of Law. It is learnt the government is preparing to issue an ordinance for administering the oath to lawmakers.

It remains undecided whether the incumbent or a new government will table the ordinances in the parliament.

Whether all the 31 bills, which were under discussion in the previous CA and now rendered defunct, will be revived is also an issue still up in the air. Some important bills were on inclusion, higher education, penal code and contempt of court.   

“The government will have to re-introduce the bills if they are to be revived,” said Mukunda Sharma, spokesperson at Parliament Secretariat.

The first meeting of Parliament will take place 21 days after the Election Commission has publicised the final result of CA election.