Earlier, the CA thematic committee on determining the forms of constitutional bodies, in its preliminary draft and concept paper, had recommended 11 constitutional commissions to be included in the new constitution. But CA members during deliberations at the CA meeting on the draft said other commissions were needed to address issues raised by several communities and sections of society. [break]
The secretariat of the experts committee has prepared a list of 53 new commissions demanded by CA members during their deliberations.
The present constitution has six constitutional bodies and the CA thematic committee in its preliminary draft report recommended five additional constitutional bodies. The new constitutional commissions proposed in the new constitution are: Women´s Commission, Commission for the Welfare of Physically Challenged, Minorities, Marginalized and Backward Communities, Dalit Commission, Indigenous/Ethnic Commission, Madhesi Commission and Muslim Commission.
During deliberations at the CA, a majority of members held the common view that the number of constitutional bodies recommended by the committee is too many.
The CA experts committee formed to study the preliminary drafts and concept papers has commenced studying the preliminary draft report. Agni Kharel, coordinator of the committee, said the committee members are also of the common view that the number should be reduced. Discussion is under way on possible ways to reduce the number of commissions. "Some friends have suggested that the number can be reduced by forming an inclusive umbrella commission with wings representing several communities and sections of society like dalits, women, Madhesi and ethnic/indigenous communities," Kharel said.
CA members both at the CA meeting and at the experts committee meeting have opined the need for reducing the number but at the same time many of them recommend one or other commission for the community or section they represent, said a member of the expert committee. "Women members insist on an independent women´s commission and dalit members would press for an independent commission to represent dalits while a Madhesi member would lobby for an independent commission for Madhesis," the CA member said, adding, "Yet, the same members would be for reducing the number of commissions. So, how can the number be reduced?"
The 53 commissions demanded by CA members include many commissions which overlap, such as Bheri-Karnali-Seti-Mahakali Commission, Seti-Mahakali Commission, Karnali Commission and Commission on Remote Region proposed on a regional basis. Some lawmakers have proposed names like Inter-State Commission, Border Commission, State Restructuring Commission, Commission to Resolve Disputes among Provinces, Federal Affairs Resolution Commission and Inter-state Goodwill Commission, which are of similar nature.
Also, the CA members have demanded a women´s and third gender commission, a children´s commission, a teachers´ commission, a workers´ and peasants´ commission, a labor commission, a Tharu commission and a commission for the protection of consumer rights, among others.
The thematic committee in its draft report recommended a Muslim Commission while CA members from other communities argued during deliberations at the CA why there should not also be a Buddhist Commission. Likewise, the committee has recommended a Madhesi commission and members representing the hill districts have demanded a Himali and Pahadi (hill region) Commission. Women CA members from the Madhesi communities have demanded a separate Tarai Women´s Commission.
The experts committee is a body for overseeing issues that overlap in the draft reports prepared by several thematic committees, duplications, issues overlooked or missed by all the 11 thematic committees and concerns raised by members during deliberations at the CA meeting.
The experts committee will present its report to the CA, which will issue a directive to the Constitutional Committee to address matters raised in the report.
thira@myrepublica.com
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