KATHMANDU, Aug 17: Following a long-standing row over oath-taking by Vice President Paramananda Jha, a cabinet meeting on Monday requested Jha to take his oath of office and secrecy as vice president in the Nepali language as ordered by the Supreme Court. [break]
- Govt seeks time schedule from Jha for taking oath in Nepali
- Govt decides to amend interim constitution
- New provision ensures taking oath in mother tongue
- New provision not to apply to Jha
The cabinet meeting took a decision to this effect with a view to respecting the SC ruling and urged Jha to abide by that ruling.
Minister for Law and Justice Prem Bahadur Singh said Monday´s cabinet meeting took three key decisions concerning the oath row. First, it decided to ask Jha in writing to respect the court´s verdict and take the oath in Nepali while also urging him to forward his consent over the issue to the government.
The cabinet likewise sought his consent on a time schedule for oath-taking in Nepali.
Secondly, the cabinet decided to furnish the government´s reply to the apex court regarding preparations for administering oath to Jha in Nepali as required by the SC. Thirdly, the cabinet decided to table a bill to amend the interim constitution and ensure the right to take one´s oath in one´s mother tongue if and when needed.
The SC had last week ordered the government, President Ram Baran Yadav and Vice President Jha to furnish their replies to the apex court on preparations being made for administering the oath to Jha in Nepali as per the provision of the interim constitution and the ruling of the court.
“The cabinet meeting reached the conclusion that everybody should respect the court´s ruling and decided to resolve the controversy over Jha´s oath-taking accordingly,” Law Minister Singh said, adding, “As per the cabinet decision, the government on Monday sent a letter to Jha seeking his reply whether he is ready to act according to that decision.”
Minister Singh informed that the government also sent a letter to President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, attached to a copy of the government decision regarding the issue.
The letter was sent to President Yadav in reply to the letter sent earlier to the government seeking information on the latter´s preparations.
Meanwhile, the cabinet also decided to furnish a reply to the SC through the Office of the Attorney General. “The government is committed to respecting and following the SC verdict and administer oath to Jha in Nepali and preparations are going on accordingly,” Singh said quoting the reply sent to the court.
The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers sent the reply to the SC immediately after the cabinet decision Monday. In its reply to the court the prime minister´s office has also enclosed a copy of the decision sent to Jha.
Meanwhile Jha said that he will decide whether or not to take oath in Nepali after formally receiving the cabinet´s decision. "Let the government decide what it wants; I will take my own decision later", Jha told myrepublica.com.
Seventh amendment to constitution
The cabinet meeting also decided to amend the interim constitution and address the issue of linguistic rights while taking oath, as raised by VP Jha. “One can take oath in any language of one´s choice that is spoken as a mother tongue in Nepal. But one has to sign the oath in Devnagari script before being sworn-in in the language of one´s choice,” Singh said quoting the provision of the bill sent to the parliament secretariat on Monday. According to the provision in the new bill, one has to inform the concerned state body 24 hours in advance about the language of choice for the oath-taking ceremony.
Minister Singh further clarified that the new provision will not be applicable in Jha´s case as he must take his oath in Nepali as per the interim constitution and Monday´s cabinet decision. “The new provision on taking-oath in the language of one´s choice was approved by Monday´s cabinet meeting with a view to resolving the debate raised concerning linguistic rights.”
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