KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel has returned the Constitutional Council (Duties, Functions, Powers, and Procedures) Act (Amendment) Bill to the House of Representatives for reconsideration, following pressure from lawmakers of the ruling Nepali Congress.
According to the President’s Press Advisor Kiran Pokharel, the President sent the bill back on Thursday, citing concerns that the proposed amendments contradict the spirit of the Constitution, democratic norms and values, and global practices.
President Paudel returned the bill in accordance with Article 113 (3) of the Constitution, which grants the head of state the authority to request Parliament to review legislation deemed inconsistent with constitutional principles.
The controversial bill had been passed by both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly and was submitted to the President for authentication on July 15.
The amendment had drawn criticism from within the ruling coalition itself, particularly from Nepali Congress lawmakers, who argued that it undermined the independence and integrity of the constitutional appointment process.
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