The Business Advisory Committee of the Parliament had on March 27 set grey coat as the official dress code for the lawmakers. Earlier this year, CPN-UML, the second largest party in the Parliament, had also instructed its lawmakers to wear the national dress-daura suruwal and bhadgaunle topi for males and gunyu choli for females-while attending meetings of the Constituent Assembly/Legislature-Parliament. Howeer, the UML lawmakers refused to follow the party edict. The parliamentary regulations also allow lawmakers to wear their traditional attire while attending the parliamentary proceedings. Even the previous CA had set blue coat as the official dress code for lawmakers.

Some lawmakers, however, say setting an official dress code is not practical while others lament the failure of their compatriots to comply with the compulsory provision. “One cannot expect to wear uniforms in the parliament. This is simply not practical,” said Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav.

However, Nepali Congress Chief Whip Chin Kaji Shrestha accused lawmakers of just being “lazy”. “I have been constantly reminding them of the need to follow the dress code. But they often make various excuses not to,” he said.

UML lawmaker Rabindra Adhikari pointed out that it would be good if the provision is strictly followed. But another lawmaker from the same party, Sher Bahadur Tamang, said there are at times practical problems in following the dress code. “Lawmakers have to attend other programmes before they come to the House. So, it is not always possible to wear grey coat,” he remarked.

Observers point out that instead of making the dress code mandatory for every day, it is appropriate to make it mandatory only on special occasions.

“Our past experience suggests that lawmakers find it difficult to follow the dress code. Instead, the provision should be there when President addresses the House or any foreign heads of state do so,” said Nilamber Acharya, head of the Constitutional Committee of the previous CA. Lawmakers had followed the compulsory dress code when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the House on August 4.