KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has expressed its serious concern over the recent government-determined Order of Precedence of individuals involved in different areas of national interest.

A meeting of the EC on Friday drew a conclusion that keeping the office-bearers of constitutional bodies below the government employees would not only undermine the constitutional posts but also apparently tarnish the institutional image and recognition of constitutional bodies.

“The EC urges the government to amend the hierarchy of positions in a way to keep the order of office-bearers of the constitutional bodies immediately below the chiefs of the respective bodies,” stated a press release issued by EC Spokesperson Shanker Prasad Kharel.

The government should keep into consideration the criteria of appointment process, role and scope of work of constitutional bodies in federal structure, international practice, tradition and existing laws in determining the order of precedents.

Such criteria and standards have been ignored in fixing the ranking which also has drawn serious attention of other bodies including EC, reads the release.