Govt. to table five ordinance in the Upper House on Tuesday

A meeting of the ruling parties on Saturday decided to endorse ordinances in the National Assembly on the basis of consensus. The meeting of the ruling alliance members held at the Prime Minister’s Official residence at Baluwatar has decided to move forward five of the six ordinances in the Parliament, according to official sources. However, they have decided to put on hold the Ordinance related to Land following strong objection raised by some of ruling alliance members.

“Five ordinances will be tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday,” Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak told media persons after the meeting. Two Madhes based parties, Janata Samajwadi Pary Nepal led by Upendra Yadav and Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party led by Mahantha Thakur had raised serious objection to some of the provisions in the Ordinance related to Land.

In January the government had issued five ordinances, Ordinance to Amend Some Nepal Acts related to Good Governance and Pubic Service Delivery, Economic Procedures and Financial Responsibility (first amendment) Ordinance, Privatization (first amendment) Ordinance, Ordinance related to Amend Some Nepal Acts Related to Economic and Business Improvement and Investment Promotion, and the Ordinance Related to Amend Some Nepal Act Related to Land. Earlier in December, the government had issued an Ordinance to Amend the Cooperative Act.

As per the Constitutional provision, the ordinance must be endorsed from the Parliament within 60 days of the beginning of the session and be replaced by Bills. The two Madhesi parties have said that they have not been consulted with while introducing the Ordinance related to Land. Although the government has clear majority in the House of Representatives it can’t secure majority support in the Upper House or the National Assembly if the two Madhesi parties did not cooperate.

Home Minister Lekhak, however, said that the ruling alliances commands majority in the National Assembly as well. The government is holding discussion with Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, which has three seats in the National Assembly, to reach an agreement regarding the ordinance Related to Land. “The discussion within the members of the ruling alliance was positive and we are confident that all the ordinance will move forward in the National Assembly for endorsement,” the Home Minister said.

It is learnt that the government is considering to review some of the provisions in the Land related Ordinances so as to satisfy the Madhes based parties, JSP Nepal and LSP before, tabling it in the National Assembly.