To be revised through amendment proposals

KATHMANDU, July 27: The government tabled the National Medical Education Bill in parliament on Friday, following the agreement it reached with Dr Govinda KC on Thursday night on revising the legislation through the parliamentary process. 

Also on Friday, Minister for Education Giriraj Mani Pokhrel tabled the nine-point agreement with Dr KC in the House of Representatives for the official record, upon the insistence of the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC).

The opposition, for its part, lifted its obstruction of parliament following the agreement with Dr KC and the tabling of the agreement in the House. NC had blocked the earlier tabling of the bill without addressing Dr KC's demands. KC had demanded withdrawal of the bill from parliament, protesting various provisions in it that ran counter to past agreements between himself and the government.

NC lawmaker Minendra Rijal demanded that the minister concerned should inform parliament about the agreement with Dr KC and the agreement document should be considered the property of the House.

NC lawmakers obstructed House proceedings until Pokhrel tabled the agreement and distributed copies to lawmakers.

Responding to NC lawmakers' concerns, Minister Pokhrel said that the government was ready to revise and amend the bill through the parliamentary process in line with the agreement reached with Dr KC. “But the agreements should first be discussed and endorsed by the cabinet,” he said.

The next House meeting on Sunday is likely to allow lawmakers to register their amendments to the bill. According to parliamentary regulations, lawmakers can register their amendment proposals within 72 hours of the full House allowing the amendment motions.

According to party leaders, lawmakers will register amendment proposals in line with the agreement reached with Dr KC, to address his demands. Such amendments will be put to vote in the full House or in committee .

If the bill attracts several amendment proposals, the full House will forward the bill and the amendment proposals to a parliamentary committee for further deliberations and revisions. The report of the parliamentary panel should be endorsed by the full House .

As various lawmakers have come up with multiple suggestions on the bill, the National Medical Education Bill is likely to be forwarded to a parliamentary committee for detailed discussions, which could take over a month. After endorsing it the House of Representatives will forward the bill to the National Assembly for feedback . The upper house should send its feedback or accept the bill, within two months of receiving it.

The lower house may accept the feedback or endorse the bill for a final time, without accepting the suggestions. If the upper house fails to send feedback or to endorse the bill, it will pass automatically, in line with House rules.

 
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