KATHMANDU, March 15 -- As Parliament convenes for its winter legislative session, Speaker Devraj Ghimire is preparing for an overseas trip. According to parliamentary protocols and standards, the Speaker may depart from their duties only under exceptional conditions during these sessions.
Last year, the Speaker encountered criticism for undertaking a 10-day international trip without assigning duties to the Deputy Speaker, causing Parliament to be suspended from March 21 through March 31. Now, Speaker Ghimire is set for another overseas journey, resulting in an expected 10-day recess of Parliament from April 4 to April 15.
Alongside a group of legislators, The Speaker plans to visit Tashkent, which serves as the capital of Uzbekistan, for their participation in the 150th session of the IPU’s General Assembly.
Radheshyam Adhikari, a former legislator and legal specialist, emphasized that the Speaker must prioritize the business of Parliament. He stated, "The main emphasis ought to be placed on Parliament itself, and the Speaker should undertake overseas trips only when they do not disrupt parliamentary activities."
Adhikari proposed that if the Speaker needs to step down, the Deputy Speaker ought to assume the duties. The Speaker has scheduled a gathering of the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee on Saturday to conclude the planning for the House of Representatives’ sessions up till March 28. According to Nepali Congress Chief Whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire, they will also deliberate over entrusting the management of these proceedings to the Deputy Speaker.
According to the House of Representatives Rules of Procedure, the Deputy Speaker can oversee sessions if they receive written authorization from the Speaker or if the Speaker is not present. Should the opposition agree to forgo further proceedings, Parliament intends to suspend operations from late March through mid-April.
Following the consultation committee meeting, the Parliament Secretariat will issue the session agenda up to March 28. As the Speaker departs on April 4, the Secretariat has opted against releasing an agenda for the time thereafter until midway through April.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with authorization from Republica.
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