KATHMANDU, May 30: A Bill aiming to amend the Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Powers, and Procedures) Act-2066 BS was endorsed by the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the House of Representatives. 

A meeting of the Committee today passed the Bill with amendments, according to Committee Chairman Ramhari Khatiwada. 

The Bill had been pending for a long time in the Committee for the lack of consensus among the political parties regarding the decision process of the Council. 

The Committee endorsed a provision allowing the Council to make decisions in a meeting attended by the Council Chair and a 50 percent majority of the total members.

The meeting also discussed the schedule, time, place, and the presence of members in a meeting.

It has endorsed a provision that warrants the Secretary to inform the members about a meeting date, time, and venue through a letter, which shall also be circulated digitally.

Previously, there was a provision requiring the Secretary to inform Committee members about the schedule, time, and venue of a meeting at least 48 hours before the meeting along with the meeting agenda.

The meeting added a provision requiring any member of the Council to inform the Chair at least 24 hours before in case of inability to attend the Committee meeting.

The Constitutional Council comprises the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the National Assembly Chairperson, the leader from the main opposition party, and the Deputy Speaker as its members and is presided over by the Prime Minister.

The Constitutional Council has been formed as per Article 284 of the Constitution. Sub Article 1 states that there shall be a Constitutional Council for making recommendations for the appointment of the Chief Justice and Chiefs and officials of the Constitutional Bodies by this Constitution. 

At the beginning of the meeting today, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, expressed her opinions on the Bill on behalf of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. As she said, it is not appropriate to introduce provisions capable of marginalizing an individual holding the executive post and creating an inconvenient atmosphere for performance.

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