Kathmandu. President Bidya Devi Bhandari prorogued the budget session of the parliament on the recommendation of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) government in early July. As the intra-party conflict of the NCP started to grow worse, the Cabinet decided to end the session abruptly.

It has been almost five months now that the parliamentary session has been halted. The opposition parties have been making demands to begin the session. The government, however, seems disinterested in calling the session and is planning to adopt necessary laws through ordinances.

The government has recommended two important ordinances since July, after the session ended. The ordinance for the amendment of the Drugs Act 2035 BS has already been endorsed by President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

The Cabinet meeting on Sunday has recommended an ordinance to make an arrangement as to penalize those trying to settle rape cases under criminal offence These two laws are being passed bypassing discussions in the parliament.

There is a constitutional provision to enact laws issuing ordinances while the house is not running. The opposition parties have accused the government of using this provision and demurring from calling the session of the house.

Pushpa Bhushal, Whip of the main opposition party Nepali Congress at the House of Representatives, says that though the government has the right to adopt laws through ordinances, it is better to approve them through the parliament. When brought through ordinance, it does not allow the people’s representatives to discuss about the law. She is optimistic that the government would call the house session soon.

The government has denied the opposition’s allegations that it has planned to bring ordinances and not calling the house session. Spokesperson for the government and Minister of Communication and Information Technology Parbat Gurung says that the government could issue ordinances as per requirement. “We have not issued ordinances haphazardly but as per the need. The parliamentary session will also be called in due time,” he added.

The constitutional provision states that two sessions have to be called in a year and there should not be a gap of more than six months between the two. The government has not gone beyond the constitution by not calling the second session until now, as there is some more time left according to the provision.

Former Speakers of the House of Representatives have urged the government to call the winter session of the parliament. They stated that it was necessary to hold discussions among the Members of the Parliament regarding the corona pandemic and other important issues. The government is not prepared to call the session of the house, though. NCP Chief Whip Dev Gurung is also of the opinion that the session should be called as soon as possible.

He told DCNepal, “The Parliament has a more important role to play during the pandemic. It is not appropriate to keep the people’s representatives and the organ of the state ineffective during the time of national crisis. The whole country needs to unite and the government needs suggestions. All these could not be carried due to the lack of the house session.” He is  hopeful that the winter session would not be delayed longer now.