Himal Press 
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KATHMANDU: Key bills, including the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, have been halted due to political differences among political parties in the House of Representatives. These bills were expected to be approved during the current session but are now unlikely to proceed immediately.
In addition to the transitional justice bill, the Constitutional Council (Works, Duties, Powers and Procedures) Act (Amendment) Bill, and some bills related to the prevention of money laundering and the promotion of the business environment have also been held up in the lower house.
Leaders have stated that these significant bills will not be proceeding immediately. The government was planning to expedite the endorsement of these bills through fast-track procedures, and as a result, has not recommended adjournment of the house session.
However, the main opposition party, CPN-UML, has maintained that clause-wise discussions must be conducted before passing these crucial laws. “During the previous term of the House of Representatives, we demanded that the transitional justice bill should be taken to the thematic committee for discussion,” stated UML’s deputy leader in the House of Representatives, Subash Chandra Nembang. “This is our position in the current term as well.”
The UML argues that if clause-wise discussions are held in thematic committees, parties will have ownership of the bills.
The leaders of the ruling parties, on the other hand, claim that the issue is related to the sharing of the leadership of thematic committees among the parties. The focus now will be on the formation of parliamentary committees, a minister said. “The current session can continue for about a week only. After this, the house will be adjourned, and the summer session will be convened.”
According to CPN (Maoist Center) lawmaker Madav Sapkota, it is now impossible to pass the transitional justice bills and other bills in this session. “As per the constitution, the budget for the new fiscal year must be introduced on May 29. Prior to that, there should be pre-budget discussions in the lower house,” he stated. “Moreover, the government also needs to present its policy and programs.”
The summer session of the house must be convened by the first week of May to complete all these, he added.
