14 statute drafting panels proposed

BY BISHNU BUDHATHOKI

KATHMANDU, Sept 2 - The Parliamentary Secretariat has proposed 14 committees under three categories -- Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), Thematic Committee (TC) and Administrative Committee (AC)-- to regulate business at the CA.According to a Parliamentary Secretariat official, the Thematic Committee will comprise at least 10 committees ...

For instance, the Committee for Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy will draft concept papers relating to rights to freedom, equality, education and property, whereas the Committee for State Restructure and Power Devolution will draft a concept paper that fall under these headings.

The draft is under consideration at the Rules and Regulations Drafting Committee (RRDC) at the CA and it is expected to be endorsed within a week, the official said.

As per the constitutional provision, under normal conditions, the CA must complete writing the new constitution in the next 20 months.

But time is running out for the RRDC, which was formed on June 5. In the last three months the RRDC held only 11 meetings as the concerned CA members were busy with election of the President, Vice President, Chairman of the CA and Prime Minister.

Constitutional expert Purna Man Shakya said, "Though there is no specific timeframe for drafting regulations, delay will definitely affect the constitution making process.

Meanwhile, the Committee for Outline of Legislative Organs of the State will work out legislative structures to be adopted in the provinces and at the center, whereas the Committee for Outline of Governance Structure of the State will develop a concept for the governance system to be adopted at the center and provinces.

The Committee for Protection of National Interest will look into overall national interest and formulate the country's defense and foreign policies.

Thereafter, the Thematic Committees will directly table their concept papers at the CA for further discussion. After comments from CA members, the proposed concept papers will be sent to the CDC.

The CDC will then compile all the concept papers and produce the draft of the constitution and table it at the CA for theoretical discussion. Subsequently, the CA will endorse the draft, make it public through the gazette and invite direct inputs from the people.

According to the official, Public Opinion Collection and Coordination Committee and CA and Civil Relations Committee under the Administrative Committee will update and compile such public opinions and forward it to the CA.

"This concept of collecting public opinion is meant to encourage people's direct participation in the constitution making process as was done in South Africa where more than 2 million opinions were collected from the public while formulating the country's new constitution," he said.

Thereafter, the CA will ratify each and every article and sub-article through two-third majority.

The regulation draft also has provision for referendum on crucial decisions of national importance and certain controversial issues.

Nine Committees for Legislature-Parliament

Meanwhile, the team at the parliamentary secretariat has proposed a separate draft of rules and regulations for legislative procedures. The CA has the added responsibility of also functioning as a Legislative body for the next two years.

The parliamentary official informed that it has set up nine Parliamentary Committees -- seven Thematic Committees and two Special Committees. Earlier, there were 21 committees-- 14 Thematic and seven special committees-- in the interim parliament.

According to the proposed draft, the Legislative Committee will be solely responsible for formulating new bills and amending existing Acts proposed by the government.

Whereas six other thematic committees-- Public Accounts Committee, Finance, Industry and Commerce Committee, State Affairs Committee, International Relations and Human Rights Committee, Natural Means and Resources Committee and Development Committee-- will monitor and oversee government activities.

It has also proposed two special committees -- the Parliamentary Special Hearing Committee and Security Special Committee. While the former will conduct public hearings for special appointments in constitutional bodies and diplomatic missions, the latter will oversee security issues.