Parliament Recess

Parliament is the highest body of elected representatives who channel the citizens’ concerns and problems to the executive branch of the state for their solution. The parliament forms the government, formulates laws and keep an eye on public institutions to ensure that they abide by rule of laws, constitutional norms and ethical values. The state’s legitimacy, credibility and international recognition emanates from the well-functioning and inclusive parliament. In Nepal, the parliament is the vibrant organ committed to democracy, transparency, human rights and public accountability. The people's voices presented through the elected deputies ensure the government's accountability. Moreover, it holds the government accountable to its decisions and actions. It checks as well as corrects the government if the latter commits mistakes or veers off the constitutional path. The people’s faith in the elected body is immense for they think the lawmakers have competence to take their issues to the government.

The House of Representatives (HoR), formed following the March 5 elections, has been instrumental in airing the burning issues facing the people. The first session of the newly created HoR began on April 2 and has continued even after the passage of the budget for the fiscal year 2026/27. Both the Houses of Federal Parliament have been adjourned for two weeks, allowing the lawmakers to visit their constituencies and engage with the people. Since their election to the HoR members, the lawmakers have not got sufficient time in meeting and listening to the grievances of the people. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, while addressing the Lower House meeting on Wednesday, highlighted the dual role of lawmakers. On one hand, they need to be in touch with the people, and on the other they must fulfill the parliamentary responsibility. Speaker Aryal noted that a stronger relationship between the lawmakers and the citizens would help evolve a more accountable, participatory and trustworthy democracy.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party-led government, with a two-thirds majority, has taken the upcoming fiscal year as the year of lawmaking and reforms. The parliament is expected to review, amend and consolidate the existing laws, while framing the new ones. The government plans to submit 166 bills before the federal parliament. Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam informed National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal about the government's preparations to this end. Gautam's statement came in response to NA Chair Dahal's concern that the Upper House is without business. The bills will be drafted by the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, and other ministries. The new government has accorded priority to good governance, corruption control, administrative reforms and effective service delivery. 

Meanwhile, opposition parties Wednesday registered a resolution of urgent public importance motion, seeking a deliberation on the management of landless people and residents of unorganised settlements. The opposition groups have criticised the government's move to demolish the settlements without identifying and verifying genuine landless people, landless Dalits, and residents of unorganised settlements. The lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties have called for providing basic facilities to the landless squatters residing at the holding centres. In a parliamentary democracy, the voice of opposition also merits attention. Democratic polity gains broader acceptance when both ruling and opposition parties have shared vision of development and prosperity. And parliament is a place where they debate the public issues and sort out their national problems within the parameters of law, constitution and democratic norms.