President returns Constitutional Council ordinance to govt for reconsideration

KATHMANDU: President Ramchandra Paudel has returned the ordinance related to the Constitutional Council to the government for reconsideration.

The decision came after nearly a week of legal consultations. While the President authenticated several other ordinances, the one concerning the Constitutional Council was sent back, according to his press advisor Baburam Kunwar.

The ordinance has been returned to the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah for further review after detailed study.

The government had recommended multiple ordinances through a Cabinet meeting held on April 27, including the one related to the Constitutional Council. Most of those ordinances have already been endorsed by the President.

The move comes at a time when the government has been facing criticism for governing through ordinances after postponing the parliamentary session.

The proposed ordinance reportedly sought to allow decisions within the Constitutional Council to be made by a minimum of three members, including the chair, a provision seen as potentially facilitating appointments to vacant constitutional bodies.

With the President’s decision to return the ordinance, the government will now need to reconsider or revise the proposal before moving forward.