House of Representatives’ Regulations Drafting Committee has agreed to increase the numbers of thematic committees to 10.
This adds to the three joint committees comprising representatives from both the Houses of federal parliament. The total number of panels exceeds three more than Parliament Secretariat’s suggestion.
The secretariat had proposed seven thematic committees for the HoR.
Party representatives on the committee exceeded the number, arguing seven would not suffice for the 15 ministries. The number of ministries has now increased to 21. Experts consider parliamentary committees as mini parliaments.
CPN (Maoist Centre) lawmaker and member of the committee Rekha Sharma said the agreement was for 10 committees while the three more panels will have representation from HoR and National Assembly. The NA will have at least three more committees. This means the total thematic committees will stand around 16.
Since the chairpersons of such committees get facilities equal to those enjoyed by a state minister, parties want to increase their numbers to settle the portfolios.
There has been a trend to Observers say there is a trend of sharing committees based on the ratio of representations in the House. As the HoR session is most likely to conclude by April 5, the panel wants to finalise the draft regulation before this date.
“We have a meeting on Sunday. If the committee finalises the draft it will table it at the HoR meeting on Monday,” said Sharma.
The regulation comes into effect once the House endorses it with majority votes.
Committee members agree to have provisions allowing lawmakers with time to question the government before the House enters into business every day. Ministers will have to answer such queries within seven days. Some lawmakers suggest ministers should answer within three days.
The prime minister will have to attend the House every Friday to answer parliamentarians’ queries. MPs will have the privilege to argue if they are not satisfied with the PM’s answer.
An earlier regulation too mandated the PM to answer parliamentarians, but it was not fully implemented.
The draft panel has agreed to cancel the House meeting if it fails to start within two hours as per schedule. This aims to end MPs’ endless waiting for the House meeting to start.
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