Delay in finalizing new parliamentary regulations following the promulgation of the new constitution has affected formation of Parliamentary Hearings Special Committee (PHSC). As a result, the hearings of 11 justices recommended for the Supreme Court and chief election commissioner have been delayed.Only 13 members were present at the 61-member regulations drafting committee meeting Sunday. Although the committee waited for two hours, the number of lawmakers did not reach 16.
"Lawmakers do not seem to be paying attention even to the most urgent issue," said UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Ram Narayan Bidari.
Committee Chairman Radheshyam Adhikari said that despite slating the committee meeting every day, indifferences of lawmakers has made the meetings futile.
However, lawmakers have accused Adhikari of prolonging deliberation in the committee over an already resolved issue. "The draft has deadlocked over the hearings issue but the committee is holding discussion on already resolved issues rather than focusing on settling a disputed issue," said a lawmaker venting his ire against Adhikari.
Dispute between the ruling parties and the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) over the formation of a hearings committee has delayed finalization of new parliament regulations. The NC is stressing on giving continuity to the existing provision relating to the hearings committee while the CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist) and other major parties have been demanding forming a 15-member new committee in line with the new constitution.
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