The government has finally agreed to receive the report of the Local Level Restructuring Commission (LLRC).

However, it is not clear when the commission will submit the report to the government. 

A Cabinet meeting on Thursday decided to receive the report and implement it after reviewing it to ascertain whether the LLRC had carried out its task as per the terms of reference fixed by the government.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was facing criticism for not receiving the report from the LLRC, which despite constraints had managed to complete its task within its mid-December deadline. 

The has been tried to build broader consensus, mainly from the Madhes-based parties which have been objecting to the entire criteria of the LLRC, on the report. 

“The Cabinet has decided to receive the report. It will be implemented as per the constitutional provision,” Energy Minister Janadardan Sharma told the Post after Thursday’s Cabinet meeting. 

Article 303 of the constitution, which has provisions relating to local bodies, says: “Local bodies existing at the time of commencement of this constitution shall continue to exist until the determination of the number and areas of the local level in accordance with this constitution”.  While LLRC officials claim that Article 303 means the

existing local units will be automatically replaced by the new ones once the report is submitted, the government believes they will remain intact unless the new restructuring is implemented. 

Dormani Poudel, a member of the commission, said it will be unfortunate if the government decides to review the report, as it does not have the authority to change the decision of a constitutional body.

“It will be unfortunate if the government disrespects the commission’s work,” he said. Earlier, the LLRC wanted to submit the report on December 21. But the commission could not do so due to PM Dahal’s “busy schedule”. The commission then registered a formal letter at the Prime Minister’s Office, seeking an appointment with PM Dahal to submit the report.