KATHMANDU, Nepal – After almost two months of the elections of the Constituent Assembly, the date for the first sitting of the CA has been fixed. After constitutional experts and political parties divided over President and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, on who to call the first meeting of CA, the date which should be fixed within 21 days from the final results of the elections has been prolonged.
The date was earlier protracted after the political parties missed the deadline set by Election Commission to submit names under Proportional Representation System for three consecutive times.
But, finally, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi summoned the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly for January 22 at 3:00 pm at International Convention Centre.
Chairman of Council of Ministers summoned the first meeting of the CA as per Article 69 (1) of the Interim Constitution, a press release issued by Chairman Regmi’s private secretariat stated.
Regmi’s decision to call the first meeting of the CA followed his meeting with the President, where a compromise was reached between the Head of State and the executive head. Earlier, both the President and the Chairman had claimed their right to call the meeting. The case even landed at the Supreme Court.
The President directed Chairman Regmi to do the needful to arrange for the first meeting of the CA keeping in mind the provision of Article 69 of the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007, spirit of the constitution, constitutional provisions, national constitutional practices of the past and international practices, stated the press release issued by the Office of the President. The release further said that the President has drawn the attention of the executive head in the capacity of Head of State and also patron and abider of the constitution.
Article 69 (1) of the constitution stipulates: The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly shall be held as summoned by the Prime Minister within 21 days after the Election Commission has published the final results of elections to the Constituent Assembly, and thereafter, its meeting shall be held at such place and time as may be specified by the person presiding over the Constituent Assembly.