Parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee has directed the government not to implement its decision to write Nepal as the country's official name instead of Federal Democratic Republic, Nepal.

The cabinet meeting of September 27 had decided to write the country's name N-E-P-A-L only saying that different countries have been writing the country’s name differently.

After the decision on the name of the country invited controversy the parliamentary committee had summoned the prime minister to clarify but he sent Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali.

Minister Gyawali, however, had clarified to the lawmakers that the Federal Democratic Republic Nepal was the form of governance and the cabinet had decided to write Nepal to ensure uniformity in the country’s name.

“Since the September 27 cabinet decision itself clarifies that the country’s name is Federal Demcoratic Republic ,Nepal the committee directs the government not to implement its decision to change it to ‘Nepal’ for now,” said Sashi Shrestha, Chairperson of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives after the discussions. “If the name was to be changed the committee directs the government to present the proposal in parliament.”

The parliamentary committee has clarified that the country’s name used to be Federal Democratic Republic, Nepal in the letter issued by the Law Ministry and that need not be changed.

"Instead of ‘Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal’ referred to as the official name of Nepal in some of the government documents and in diplomatic correspondences, ‘N-E-P-A-L’ shall be written now onwards,” reads the circular of the Law Ministry of Oct 14.

However, two of the ruling party lawmakers Navaraj Silwal and Bijay Subba, who are also the members of the parliamentary committee have opposed the decision claiming that the direction was not necessary as the government has already clarified that the government had no ill-intention about the implementation of federalism.

In the 26-member Parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, 14 members are from the ruling Nepal Communist Party, six from the main opposition Nepali Congress, four from the Janata Samajbadi Party and as many independent members.

Law Minister Shivamaya Tumbahangphe had told the Post last week that the Cabinet decision was not connected to any provision of the constitution.

During the meeting lawmaker of Janata Samajbadi Party Rajendra Shrestha also said the government wanted to change the existing name which is not necessary and this step was suspicious.

Many constitutional experts, political commentators and party leaders have expressed concern over the change of the official name of the country suspecting the intention of the government claiming that the Cabinet cannot change the provisions of the constitution.

This story has been updated to include the number of members in the Parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee.