Kathmandu, August 25, 2006

The Constitution Drafting Committee headed by former Supreme Court Justice Laxman Prasad Aryal today handed over the draft of the Interim Constitution to the government and the Maoists talks teams.

It took 68 days to complete its job. The draft gives space to the King, it does not give him the status of head of state. It says the chairman of the interim legislature would play the role of head of state.

Article 165 of the new constitution states that a referendum during election to a Constituent Assembly will decide whether there should be a monarchy here or not.

The draft did not give any tile of “Shree Panch” to the King. Nor did it give any space to the queen, crown prince and other members of the royal palace.

Several important issues, like the number of legislatures in the to- be-formed interim legislature and constituent assembly, have not been specified. That was because the government and the Maoists talks teams did not agree on those issues.

The draft states that an interim legislature and an interim executive will be formed with political consensus.

The interim legislature will be formed under Article 167 with political consensus and the current House of Representatives will be dissolved immediately after the interim constitution is promulgated.

Articles 168 and 169 require the reappointment of the judges and the heads and members of constitutional bodies within six months after the promulgation of the Constitution.

The draft also has a provision to constitute a court to handle disputes related to CA elections.

Newborn gets another life

A newborn, who was declared dead by a nurse at the Pokhara-based Western Regional Hospital, came to his senses when he was taken to the Seti river for performing last rites on Monday.

The newborn was born to 31-year-old Manju Thapa, of Sekham VDC-4, on Sunday. He was wrapped in plastic and kept on the hospital floor throughout the night.

Uncle of Manju, Lal Bahadur, rushed the newborn to the hospital from the Seti river banks as he cried all of a sudden.

He has been admitted to the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit of the hospital for treatment, said medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Kalu Sharma.

Sharma said he had instructed head physician of the department, Yamuna Suwal, to look into the case.

Sharma said action would be taken against the nurse for showing negligence.

The infant was born 23 weeks after conception, Sharma said, adding that the chances of the newborn surviving were slim. “It was a premature birth. The newborn cannot survive for long,” Dr Sharma said.

The newborn has been undergoing treatment and temperature suitable for the newborn has been maintained, he said, adding that the hospital had been treating the newborn for free.