The meeting called by the CC Secretariat on Monday evening and attended by all members except Dahal was all set to issue a public notice in Dahal´s name asking him to attend the CC meeting.[break]
Constitutional experts and lawyers had suggested to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to issue a public notice in Dahal´s name about the agenda, venue and time of the CC meeting 48 hours in advance. The PM had consulted constitutional lawyers on the issue after Dahal had refused to attend a meeting as invited by the CC Secretariat.
Dahal´s presence at CC meetings in his capacity as main opposition leader is mandatory. However, the CC can take a decision if the main opposition leader doesn´t attend a meeting even after being informed 48 hours in advance.
"The prime minister briefed us about his meeting with Dahal held on Monday morning. We learnt from the PM that Dahal had asked him not to take any decisions until a meeting of top leaders of major political parties," said Speaker Subash Chandra Nembang after the CC meeting, adding, "We suggested to the PM to abide by the main opposition party leader´s suggestions and wait till the meeting of top leaders."
Another knowledgeable source, also close to the PM, informed Republica that the PM decided not to issue a public notice in Dahal´s name until the meeting of top leaders after the later requested him not to disgrace him publicly.
"Let´s not go for public disgrace by issuing a public notice. We will try to come to conclusions on crucial issues including appointments to constitutional bodies after holding a meeting among top leaders. Let´s wait till the meeting of top leaders," the source quoted Dahal as requesting the PM at Monday´s meeting.
The prime minister´s principle advisor, Raghuji Panta, also confirmed Dahal´s request to the PM not to take any decisions until the meeting of top leaders. "The Prime Minister´s Office (PMO) was not only all set to issue a public notice in Dahal´s name but was also mulling all possible alternatives including informing Dahal in advance and going ahead with appointments to statutory bodies," said Panta, adding, "The PMO didn´t issue a public notice following Dahal´s request."
Panta further informed Republica that the duo discussed a range of issues including the budget, appointments at the four statutory bodies, integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants and the entire peace process.
Asked about the next meeting of the CC, Speaker Nembang, one of the members of the council, informed journalists that the PM will inform CC members about the date of the next meeting after the meeting of top leaders, which, according to him, is expected on Tuesday.
A CC decision taken in Dahal´s absence six months ago to recommend the chiefs and members of four statutory bodies was ruled null and void by the Supreme Court, citing that Dahal was not informed 48 hours in advance. The Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Powers and Procedures) Act-2066 stipulates that all CC members should be informed 48 hours beforehand about the agenda, venue and date of a CC meeting.
The CC had recommended Babu Ram Acharya as chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Neel Kantha Uprety as chief of the Election Commission, Udaya Nepali Shrestha as chief of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and Bhanu Acharya as auditor general.
Likewise, Bisheshwar Man Shrestha, Drona Raj Regmee, Him Bahadur Gurung and Munilal Yadav were named CIAA commissioners.
The council had recommended Ram Sworup Sinha as member of the Public Service Commission while Dr Bhola Shah and Bhushan Shrestha were named members of the Election Commission.
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