Three years after promulgation of the new constitution, the Constitutional Council Secretariat on Tuesday called for applications from eligible candidates to form eight constitutional bodies through open competition.

The secretariat announced the vacancies of chairpersons and members of the commissions—National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission (NNRFC), National Women Commission, National Dalit Commission, National Inclusion Commission, Indigenous Nationalities Commission, Madhesi Commission, Tharu Commission and Muslim Commission.

Among these, the NNRFC is a body which will devise a formula for distribution of grants, revenues and royalties to provincial and local governments.

Formation of the NNRFC is crucial to resolving the ongoing row over tax between the federal, provincial and local governments.

The NNRFC chairperson must have at least 20 years of experience in the field of natural resources or fiscal management, economics, law, management, along with a bachelor’s degree in the relevant discipline from a recognised university.

According to a notice published by the council secretariat, it will first maintain rosters of applicants. After reviewing and shortlisting the applications, it will submit the names to the Constitutional Council for a final decision.

The President appoints the chairperson and members of the commissions on the recommendation of the council. Each commission will have a maximum of five members, including the chairperson, with six-year terms.

The National Inclusion Commission has the mandate to mainstream the people from marginalised communities, the poor and people with disabilities. The Indigenous Nationality Commission, formed in line with Article 261 of the constitution, will work for the welfare of people from ethnic groups.

Article 255 of the constitution provides for the National Dalit Commission to work on the welfare of people from the Dalit community and end the ill practice of untouchability.

The government is bound to implement the recommendations of the constitutional commissions that formulate national policies and programmes concerning the marginalised communities. The commissions will also study the financial, academic, social, religious, cultural and historical aspects of the various communities.

Others constitutional bodies already in operation are the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, the Auditor General’s Office, the Public Service Commission, the Election Commission and the National Human Rights Commission.