For the first time since the present House came into operation, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal on Monday directed Prime Minister Balendra Shah to appear in the House of Representatives and answer questions raised by lawmakers.

At the start of Monday’s House meeting, Aryal issued the directive under the provisions of the House rules, which require the prime minister to attend the session and respond to lawmakers’ questions on matters directly related to his responsibilities.

“I have taken note of the protests by lawmakers, who have for some time been demanding a question-and-answer session with the prime minister on important matters concerning the prime minister or his areas of responsibility, as provided under Rule 56 of the House of Representatives Rules, 2026,” Aryal said.

“In this context, I direct the right honourable prime minister to attend the House meeting and answer lawmakers’ questions in accordance with Rules 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60 of the regulations,” he said.

Aryal, however, did not issue any specific directive regarding the opposition parties’ protests over remarks Shah made during a House meeting on May 31. Opposition lawmakers have been demanding an explanation from the prime minister since that meeting.

During the May 31 session, Shah said Nepal, too, had encroached on Indian territory.

The House of Representatives Rules, 2026, contains provisions governing question-and-answer sessions with the prime minister in Chapter 9. Rule 56 states that the speaker shall allocate the first hour of one House meeting during the first week of every month for lawmakers to ask the prime minister questions on important matters directly related to the prime minister or his areas of responsibility.