KATHMANDU, June 30

The Constitution Drafting Committee today tabled the first draft of new constitution at the Constituent Assembly meeting. The document backed by major political parties has created hope that the new constitution will be delivered soon. It took over seven years to produce the document after the constitution drafting process began in 2008 following the political change in 2006.

The draft was made public through the official website — www.can.gov.np — of CA for people’s feedback. The parties will allocate seven to 10 days for collecting people’s feedback before preparing the final draft and delivering the new constitution within 15-25 days, said Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak.

CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang has called next CA meeting on Thursday to hold discussions on the document. “I will determine the time duration for feedback after holding consultations among parties,” Nembang said. He said the CA entered the most important phase of promulgating the new constitution today.

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“The first draft has created an important basis to promulgate the new constitution through CA and fulfill the six-decade long people’s wish of delivering the country’s constitution by CA,” said Sitaula, tabling the draft at CA meeting this evening.

Sitaula said the panel was able to deliver the document that evolved from multiple differing opinions of the parties and individual CA members of divergent ideological backgrounds. “The CDC has received many differing opinions on behalf of some parties and many CA members. We have risen above the interests of parties,” claimed Sitaula.

Talking of differing opinions, Unified CPN-Maoist submitted a 26-page document listing its differing views on the first draft of the constitution. According to UCPN-M Chief Whip Girirajmani Pokhrel, his party favours directly elected President and provisions for special structures — autonomous, special and protected areas — in the new constitution. He said the draft had only included special areas and that would be insignificant without autonomous and protected areas.

The party also backs proportional inclusion in all the organs of the state, commissions and all government services.

Pokhrel said the draft has excluded 90 per cent of the issues agreed during the first CA regarding the judiciary.

After some CA members, including Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa, pointed out recent order of the Supreme Court,

CA Chairman Nembang said, “The CA is a sovereign body to deliver the new constitution. It has moved ahead as per the past orders and verdicts of the SC’s larger benches.”