Secretariat Autonomy
IS NEPAL’S parliament efficient ? Many
would venture that it is not so always. Though the parliament has notched up a number of
achievements during its existence over the past decade, there is more than a grain of
truth in the general observation that it should have done much, much more. The business of
legislating, which should be the parliament’s main occupation, has not always run
smoothly. Over these years, the members of parliament have been able to pass only a
limited number of legislations, in contrast to the perceived need for a number of new of
revised laws in various spheres. When the new constitution was promulgated in 1990, many
of the existing Acts became out of place. However, because the legislating business of the
legislative has been so slow, they continue to remain in force. As a result, a lot of
confusion reigns where the laws have not been revised according to the letter and spirit
of the constitution.
Though the main reason for inefficiency in
the parliament has to do with the lackadaisical attitude of the lawmakers and the
political uncertainty that has dogged it for years, it is true that the organisational
structure of the Parliament Secretariat, which is supposed to provide the lawmakers with
the needed support in their function leaves a lot to be desired. In every parliamentary
democracy, there is a good deal of work being put in behind the scenes by the
parliamentary staff for the legislators to go about their business of legislating
efficiently. In case of Nepal, it is fair to say that the Parliament Secretariat has, for
various reasons, not been able to perform its role as expected of it. Hence, the need to
strengthen it. There seems to be a consensus now that the Parliament Secretariat needs to
be made autonomous and bring in measures that motivate its employees. Minister for Law,
Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mahanta Thakur told the House Wednesday that a bill
proposing to make the Secretariat autonomous has been drafted and forwarded to the Council
of Ministers. The Opposition members of parliament also stressed that administrative and
financial autonomy of the Secretariat was essential to help it carry out its duties and
responsibilities as envisaged under a parliamentary democracy. Nothing, it appears, should
prevent the bill from being passed in the current session if it is tabled.
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