Deputy Speaker to have right to initiate and adjourn meetings of HoR

KATHMANDU, Jan 31: It has been agreed to amend the House of Representatives (HoR) rules by providing the Deputy Speaker the right to initiate and adjourn the meetings of the HoR.

In the meeting of the Rules Drafting Committee formed to amend the Joint House Rule 2075 BS, a provision has been made that the Deputy Speaker can initiate and adjourn the meeting. According to Article 91, Clause 4 of the Constitution, in the absence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Deputy Speaker shall preside over the House of Representatives. However, in the rules of the House of Representatives, there was no provision for the Deputy Speaker to start and adjourn the meeting. In sub-rule 4 of Rule 6 of the Joint House Rule 2075 BS, it is said that the Speaker shall announce the commencement and adjournment of each meeting. In the National Assembly Rules of Joint House Rule 2075 BS, there is provision that if there is no Speaker or if the Speaker gives an order, the Deputy Speaker can initiate and adjourn the meeting. However, this matter is not used much in practice in the National Assembly, the officials of the Parliament Secretariat say.

In the proposal to amend the Joint House Rule, there is a provision that the Deputy Speaker can initiate and adjourn meetings in extraordinary circumstances or if the Speaker gives it in writing. Similarly, if the time of holding the meeting of the House of Representatives is cut by two hours, there was a provision to adjourn the meeting by notice. Now that time has been reduced to an hour. Likewise, the executive committee has been made 21 members apart from ex-officio members. Earlier, there was a 17-member work arrangement consultation committee, excluding the provincial members.

Likewise, according to the Joint House Rules 2075 BS, the meeting of the House of Representatives will be held on the days specified by the Speaker, taking into account the workload. Unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker, the meeting will normally start at one o'clock. However, if it cannot be started even within two hours of the scheduled time, it has been arranged that the minister concerned of the Zero Hour and Special Hour should reply within seven days, instead of five days as per the earlier provision. Information of Parliament’s daily agenda will be given through electronic communication.