KATHMANDU, June 1: The constitution amendment bill on the new political map of the country tabled earlier at the federal parliament has been published in the Nepal Gazette to inform the public.
According to officials at the Federal Parliament Secretariat, the bill was published in the Nepal Gazette on Sunday in accordance with Article 274 of the Constitution and Rule 137 of the House of Representatives Regulations. These legal provisions make it mandatory for the government to publicize any new bill within 30 days after it is tabled in parliament.
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Officials said the logic behind publicizing the amendment bill in the Nepal Gazette is to enable the general public to provide their feedback and suggestions on such bills introduced by the government. People can give their feedback on the bill through their respective lawmakers.
The amendment bill states that it is related only to the issue of updating the map in Nepal's coat of arms and the national emblem with a new one that includes Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura in Nepal’s territories.
A Cabinet meeting held on May 18 had endorsed the new political map that includes Kalapani, Lipu Lekh, and Limpiyadhura that have been controlled by India since the 1960s. The Ministry of Land Management had officially made the new map public two days later.
Law Minister Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe had tabled the amendment bill at the House of Representatives (HoR) on Sunday. Lawmakers are set to deliberate on the amendment bill after parliament endorses the new budget unveiled by the Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada on May 28.
It requires a two-thirds majority vote in parliament to endorse any constitution amendment bill. The government has already secured the required two-thirds majority votes in parliament after the main opposition party decided to extend its support to the amendment bill.
