Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Former Chief Justice and former Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Khil Raj Regmi, has suggested that any amendment to the constitution should preserve its core spirit and preamble.
Regmi made the remarks during a meeting with a task force, led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s political adviser Ashim Sha, formed to prepare a discussion paper on constitutional amendments. He added that the constitution’s basic structure must not be undermined under any circumstances.
“The constitution’s preamble, particularly its second preambular section, should be carefully safeguarded and its original spirit preserved,” he said.
On the issue of the country’s religious framework, which has recently been the subject of public debate, Regmi suggested refraining from making any changes to religious matters.
Amid ongoing discussions on whether Nepal should adopt an executive presidential system or continue with a parliamentary model led by a prime minister, he advised against making hasty decisions. Regmi warned that an excessive pursuit of political stability could push the country toward another form of authoritarianism or concentration of power. “Conclusions on such serious matters should only be reached after a thorough study of international practices and examples,” he added.
Discussing practical challenges related to Article 76 of the constitution, which is related to government formation and motions of no confidence, he said the current provision barring no-confidence motions for two years after the formation of a new government was not entirely practical.
Regmi also pointed out distortions in the current electoral system, arguing that the large number of proportional representation lawmakers has, at times, allowed them to wield greater influence than directly elected members and become decisive players in parliament. To do away with this, he proposed reducing the number of proportional representation seats to 60.
He further suggested ending the practice of appointing individuals who have already held high-ranking state positions as lawmakers through the proportional representation quota. Likewise, he said the composition of the National Assembly should ensure genuine representation of women, Dalits and historically marginalized communities.
Regmi also proposed lowering the minimum age requirement to contest elections to the House of Representatives from 25 to 21 years to ensure the political participation of Gen Z.
Task force coordinator Asim Shah said the committee would seriously consider Regmi’s important recommendations in the constitutional amendment discussion paper.
