Kathmandu, April 17 

CPN-UML lawmaker Krishna Bhakta Pokhrel today said the rule drafting committee of the House of Representatives was preparing to introduce a provision wherein lawmakers would be automatically suspended if criminal case was filed against them.

Pokhrel, who is also chair of the rule drafting committee of the House of Representatives, said once such a rule was approved lawmakers would remain suspended until the final hearing of the case.

As per the earlier provision, lawmakers were not suspended even if criminal case was filed against them. “Suspension will be lifted if the lawmakers are not found guilty,” Pokhrel said, adding that if proven guilty such lawmakers would be sacked. He said a new lawmaker would be elected if any lawmaker was dismissed from his post.

According to Pokhrel, the draft rule also proposes mandatory presence of the prime minister in the Parliament twice a month to answer queries of lawmakers.

Pokhrel said consensus had been forged with the principal opposition Nepali Congress on forming 10 parliamentary committees. He said the committee would discuss the draft rule with chief whips of all parties before tabling it in the HoR.

NC lawmaker Min Bahadur Bishwokarma, who is also a member of the HoR rule drafting committee, said there were few differences regarding the draft rule and it would be tabled in the House of Representatives soon.