Change of guard likely to delay process

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: With the formation of national unity government, uncertainty looms large over appointment in various constitutional bodies lying vacant for the last five years.

“There is no guarantee of immediate appointment as the designation of opposition leader and ministers as Constitutional Council (CC) members may take some time, which will further delay the appointment process,” Speaker Subas Nembang said.

With Nepali Congress joining the government, the post of Opposition leader will fall vacant, therefore until the new opposition leader and ministers are appointed as CC members, the Council will not discuss filling the vacant posts. Besides, political parties are focused on promulgation of the new Constitution and appointments to constitutional bodies may not get priority.

The posts of chiefs and commissioners at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Election Commission and the Auditor General have been lying vacant due to differences among parties as all the parties want their persons there.

It appears that a fresh process may have to begin because new CC members may want the process from the initial phase.

Following the Supreme Court order of April 19 to appoint the CIAA chief at the earliest, the Council’s meeting was called on Wednesday but it did not discuss the process of appointment because all the cabinet members who had represented the Council had resigned.

Ishwori Prasad Paudel, CIAA spokesperson, blamed the government for weakening the anti-graft body by delaying the appointment. “On the one hand, the government has been criticising the CIAA for its work and on the other, it has not been appointing officials,” he said. Running the constitutional bodies with bureaucrats is against the spirit of the Constitution, he added.

Responding to a writ filed by Keshav Prasad Baral who was appointed CIAA commissioner one-and-a half-year ago, but who failed to assume office due to vacancy in the post of CIAA chief, the apex court had directed the authorities to appoint commissioners in CIAA at the earliest.