The Constitutional Council (CC), which lay vacant for 8 months, has got a full shape. The six members of the Constitutional Council were finalized on Monday after Nepali Congress elected its parliamentary party (PP) leader today.
Chaired by the Prime Minister, the Constitutional Council comprises the Chief Justice, the Speaker, the National Assembly Chair, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Deputy Speaker. However, while appointing a new Chief Justice, the Law Minister joins the Council in place of the Acting Chief Justice.
Now, the Constitutional Council will include Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, National Assembly Chair Narayan Dahal, Leader of the Opposition Party Bhishma Raj Angdembe and Deputy Speaker Ruby Kumari Thakur.
This time, the Constitutional Council has also become inclusive. Women's participation in the Constitutional Council has reached 33 percent. Similarly, the leader of the opposition party Angdembe is from the Janajati community, Prime Minister Shah is from the Madhesh community, and Deputy Speaker Thakur is from the Madhesh Dalit community. Acting Chief Justice Malla is also from a tribal woman, making the team inclusive in all respects.
The members of the Constitutional Council lay vacant after the dissolution of Parliament due to the Gen Z uprising on September 8 and 9. Although the Speaker and Deputy Speaker had already been elected, the Constitutional Council could not get a full shape due to delays in electing the leader of the opposition party.
The Constitutional Council will recommend the appointment of the Chief Justice, heads of constitutional bodies and office bearers. Currently, the posts of the Chief Justice and Chief Election Commissioner are vacant.
The Constitutional Council can now recommend names for the vacant posts. These recommendations are then sent to the parliamentary hearing committee for approval. Once cleared, the President will appoint the Chief Justice on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council.
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