Kathmandu, June 22: Despite dissolution of Nepal's House of Representatives last year, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat still holds his post and continues to draw his salary due to a unique provision in the country's Constitution. A peculiar clause in the Nepalese Constitution states that the Speaker continues to hold the office until the date of filing of nominations for elections to the House of Representatives.

"I have now become a body-less head," Ranabhat said sarcastically, referring to the fact that though the remains the speaker, the House of Representatives ceased to exist in the Himalayan Kingdom in May last year.


Hence, Speaker Ranabhat still holds the post, draws his salary and enjoys all the facilities entitled to him as per the rules.

As there are no people's representatives on the local bodies either, there is no participation of people in the country, the speaker was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu POS.

In this vacuum, the Upper House has also become head-less, Ranabhat said.
The Upper House chairman Mohamad Mohasin's term expires in less than a week.

Of the present 59 members of the upper house, the term of 20 members including that of the chairman expires on June 26, bringing down its total strength to 39, the post said.

Of total 60 members a seat had fallen vacant since last year after a royal nominee resigned, it said.
Bureau Report