Starting with his swearing-in ceremony, Vice-president Paramanand Jha has generated several controversies, though his post is supposed to be above controversy. Jha first courted a fierce controversy when he took the oath of office in Hindi. There was already public unease over his candidacy because of his tainted image in the judiciary. His post carries gr-eat dignity but little power. But he has made it a point to ask for executive powers, as reflected in his public statements. Now, he has flown into controversy by challenging the legitimacy of the special committee formed by the government for the integration and rehabilitation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Even in countries with presidential system of government - for instance, the United States — the office of the vice-president appears obscure, with not much powers. Even in India, the vice-president leads a relatively obscure existence. Nepal’s Interim Constitution casts the President in the role of a nominal head, entrusted with ceremonial functions. The Vice-president exists just to fill in for the President in his absence. As a former judge, Jha fully knows the limits of the vice-president’s position. If he is not satisfied with his present position, he would do well to step down, and even enter active party politics, seeking a position of power. But he is not free to criticise government’s decisions or make other statements unbecoming of the dignity and decorum of his high office.