DHANGADHI, Aug 19: Nepali Congress (NC) Sudurpaschim Province Parliamentary Party (PP) leader Kamal Bahadur Shah has objected to Speaker Bhim Bahadur Bhandari’s decision to remove Provincial Assembly member Prakash Deuba from office.
Speaking to journalists in Dhangadhi on Wednesday, Shah said a provincial assembly member should be questioned and allowed to present their position before being removed from office.
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He said a decision made without giving the concerned person an opportunity to be heard would be inappropriate under the principle of natural justice. “The Speaker has suddenly decided to dismiss Honorable Prakash Deuba. The concerned side must clarify the intention behind this decision,” Shah said.
The Provincial Assembly Secretariat had prepared a note recommending that Deuba’s seat be declared vacant, citing his absence from provincial assembly meetings for around 11 months while he has been in the United States. Speaker Bhandari approved the recommendation on Tuesday, resulting in Deuba’s removal.
According to the Provincial Assembly Secretariat, Deuba was removed in accordance with the constitutional provision after he remained absent from more than 10 consecutive meetings without prior notice.
However, Shah argued that the Speaker should not have removed Deuba without making inquiries, even though Deuba had informed the authorities about his absence. He also described the Speaker’s decision as biased.
Shah said the Speaker should not make decisions based on partisan interests or the numerical strength of political parties in the Provincial Assembly. He said the Speaker must remain impartial and neutral, adding that the NC would continue to monitor and oppose activities by the Speaker that it considers inappropriate.
