Committee Chairman Bishnu Poudel handed in the reports of the National Interest Protection Commit-tee (NIPC), and Natural Resource, Fiscal Rights and Revenue Distribution Committee. The reports will be tabled in the CA possibly on Tuesday. Following deliberations on the report, the Assembly will send disputed issues to the Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee while the agreed matters will be taken up by the Drafting Committee.

A subcommittee under the Records Committee found the provision of conscription in the NIPC report contentious. The Rabindra Adhikari-headed panel has commented that despite the conscription provision being beyond the jurisdiction of the committee, the report could be a useful reference for constitution drafting.

The subcommittee has based its conclusions on a decision taken by the first CA on January 26, 2011. A majority of other issues addressed by the NIPC have no disputes.

The Records Committee had approved most provisions in the report of the Natural Resource Committee and wants them sent to the Drafting Committee. The conclusions were based on the CA decision taken on February 4, 2010 regarding the report.

The Records Committee concluded on Sunday that the provision of Constitutional Court is another contentious issue. Many in the judicial fraternity are against the idea of having a constitutional court as it would be conflicting with the Supreme Court.

Speaker to meet diplomats

Speaker Subas Nembang is scheduled to meet the heads of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu on Thursday. The CA Secretariat has invited ambassadors and heads of mission to brief on the progress made in the constitution drafting process. According to sources, Nembang will ask the ambassadors to discourage foreign visits of lawmakers.

Statute within a year: Nembang

CA Chairman Subas Nembang has expressed his confidence that the new constitution will be drafted within a year, saying that he is determined not to make changes to the constitution-drafting calendar.

Speaking at a programme organised to hand over charge to the newly-elected working committee of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Nembang said there were positive developments in constitution writing.

Hinting at the ongoing dispute regarding FNJ membership, Nembang said the new committee will be able to resolve the issue.

Newly elected FNJ President Mahendra Bista said institutionalising the gains of revolution under the federation’s banner had come upon their shoulders. He remarked that the FNJ will focus on timely completion of a democratic constitution with total press freedom, and freedom and rights for the people.

Welcoming the new leadership, outgoing Chairman Shiva Gaunle said one must not forget the main mantra that FNJ belongs to all the journalists. He called on the new leadership to keep vigil in order to maintain the FNJ tradition of not bowing to any move aimed at curbing press freedom.