Kathmandu, December 13

The government is considering a federal police ordinance to facilitate adjustment of police personnel between federal and provincial governments, contrary to its claim that its ordinance on civil servant adjustment would be the last one.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota said today that the government had decided to send the draft police ordinance to the Public Service Commission for its advice. Baskota said this at a press conference organised to brief decisions of the Cabinet held on December 10.

Baskota said the ordinance was being brought to remove difficulties. “People may say that the government is taking the backdoor route to address issues, but the government has constitutional sanction to bring an ordinance,” he said. He added that the government was free to bring an ordinance as per Article 114 of the constitution.

Nepali Congress’ Whip in the House of Representatives Pushpa Bhusal told THT that the government was trying to avoid the Parliament. “Ruling through ordinance is against the spirit of our constitution,” she said, adding that the government should call the House as soon as possible to enact laws.

She said the NC had supported the government when it had to meet the three-year deadline to draft 16 laws related to enjoyment of fundamental rights. “Our party supported the government to suspend regulation to fast-track the passage of bills, but we would not want to repeat the same now,” she said, adding that the government should summon the new session of Parliament to pass urgent bills.

Baskota said the government was under no obligation to follow all recommendations of the PSC on the ordinance.