Supreme Court puts controversial parliamentary rules on hold
Summary
The Supreme Court has put two controversial provisions of the House of Representatives Rules, 2026 on hold, saying they appear to conflict with the Constitution. The interim order affects rules on constitutional amendment certification and the legal status of parliamentary rules.
Key Points
- A Constitutional Bench led by Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma suspended Rule 140(11) and Rule 259 of the House of Representatives Rules, 2026.
- The court said the disputed provisions appeared to conflict with constitutional requirements for passing amendments and with existing legislative provisions.
- The challenge was filed by Kamaladevi Pant and others, arguing the rules could let votes from both parliamentary chambers be combined improperly.
- The rules were passed amid strong opposition, as the dispute highlights tensions between Nepal’s two parliamentary chambers and the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party's strength in the House.
