E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU , NOV 12 - The process to amend the Interim Constitution to form an expert panel instead of a state restructuring commission was initiated from the parliament on Saturday.

The next session scheduled for Wednesday would endorse the bill calling for the 11th amendment to the Interim Constitution. The process could not initiate on Friday due to dismal attendance of lawmakers in the House session.

The presentation of bill proposing article 138 (2) of the Interim Constitution in the parliament was unanimously accepted by Saturday's House session. The bill envisages formation of an expert panel from the Constituent Assembly (CA) to seek suggestions on state restructuring.

The original plan to pass the amendment bill from Friday's House session received a jolt after lawmakers belonging to the hard-line faction of the UCPN (Maoist) opposed the idea of a shortcut process. The faction led by Maoist Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya is against the constitution's amendment.

"The formation of an expert panel by introducing a provision in the constitution will curtail the authority of the Constituent Assembly to take a final call on state restructuring," said Maoist lawmaker Dev Gurung. He argued that principles laid by the CA Committee on the Restructuring of the State and Devolution of State Power regarding state restructuring could be annulled by 'such a powerful panel."

The Maoist hardliners opine that the expert panel could be formed without constitution amendment to complete the technical works that are yet to be finalised on the state restructuring based on the provisions in the parliamentary rule of procedures. They argue that the panel should have limited mandate and that it should uphold the core principles of identity and sustainability set by the CA committee as the basis of determining the federal units.

Lawmakers belonging to some Madhes-based parties and ethnic minorities are also wary about formation of the panel, whose jurisdiction will be determined by the CA after the House endorses the amendment bill. The Madhes-based parties want the assurance that there will not be more than two provinces in the Tarai.

Posted on: 2011-11-12 05:24

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