President Ramchandra Paudel has returned the government-recommended ordinance related to the Constitutional Council for reconsideration, the President’s Office said on Sunday.

Baburam Kunwar, legal adviser to the President, said that the decision was taken after a review of the ordinance submitted by the government. He said the President decided to send it back for further deliberation rather than authenticate it.

The ordinance had been recommended by the Cabinet during its April 27 meeting, along with several other ordinances, and forwarded to the President for approval.

This is not the first time such a move has been taken. A similar ordinance recommended by a previous government led by Sushila Karki had also been returned by the Office of the President in the past.

Officials said the President exercised his constitutional authority to seek reconsideration, signalling concerns over the provisions included in the ordinance.

The government has yet to formally respond to the decision.