The recent session of the House of Representatives was interrupted when the quorum was not maintained after nearly six hours of proceedings. The discussion on the proposal to amend the Nepali Citizenship Act above 2081 was underway when it was noted by National Independent Party MP Nisha Dangi that the quorum had not been met, prompting Speaker Devraj Ghimire to request verification of the numbers.
Speaker Ghimire rang the bell for three minutes to confirm the attendance and directed the Secretariat to count the members present for the proposal discussion as the required quorum of 69 members was short by one. This revelation led to the removal of the remaining agenda items from today’s schedule, as informed by the Speaker, due to the lack of quorum.
During the meeting, Minister of Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak had planned to present the proposal for discussion on amending the Nepali Citizenship Act above 2081. According to Article 94 of the Nepali Constitution, at least one-fourth of the total members of the House of Representatives must be present for any proposal or decision-making process.
Ramesh Khatri, representing Kansai Nepal News, expressed concern over the disruptions caused by the lack of quorum during such crucial legislative discussions, emphasizing the importance of upholding parliamentary procedures for effective governance.
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Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: February 17, 2025 12:00 am
