The last four House of Representatives (HoR) meetings have been adjourned in lack of quorum with lawmakers leaving after registering attendance to earn allowance.
At least 69 lawmakers should be present in the 275-strong HoR for tabling any bill or proposal for decision as the Constitution requires attendance of one-fourth for quorum. But the last four meetings including that on Monday have been adjourned in lack of quorum despite more than double that number registering attendance.
HoR members get an allowance of Rs 1,000 and another Rs 1,000 for transportation every day after recording attendance. But they do not stay for meeting after attendance leading to adjournment of House.
A total of 181 lawmakers had registered attendance on February 25 but the proposal for deliberation on amendment of the act related to banks and financial institutions could not be tabled in lack of quorum with just 58 in attendance.
The meeting two days later was also similarly adjourned despite 172 lawmakers registering attendance that day. "They come to blast the opposition or influence sub judice cases. But the House is empty at the time of passing bills," NC lawmaker Dev Prasad Timalsina pointed sarcastically to Speaker Agni Sapkota that day.
Just 58 lawmakers were present that day when Speaker Sapkota ordered counting that day.
It is the responsibility of the ruling party to complete quorum to pass the bills prepared by the government. But CPN lawmakers have started to bunk the House meetings these days.
The meeting on Sunday was also adjourned with just 54 lawmakers present despite 156 registering attendance while that on Monday had just 65 present despite 144 recording attendance.
Lawmakers point that they have to go out as the House meeting continues for a long period. Sapkota has continued each meeting for more than three hours after being appointed speaker.
Chief whip of CPN Dev Gurung told Setopati that the party lawmakers are ignoring his request to be present at the time of presenting agenda for the meeting. "They inform while going out of the Kathmandu Valley but do not inform at other times," Gurung stated. "You should ask the lawmakers why they are not present."
