Prime Minister Balen Shah will not respond to questions raised about the budget allocated for the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Defense.
In the House of Representatives, it is standard practice for the minister concerned to answer questions raised during budget discussions on ministries.
The House of Representatives Regulations also clearly state that the relevant minister must answers questions related to their ministry.
Rule 145 (9) of the House of Representatives Regulations mandates that any questions raised during budget discussions on specific headings must be answered by the relevant minister at the end of the debate.
Ministry-wise budget discussions were held on June 15 and 16. Under the regulations, questions raised regarding the Ministry of Defense and the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers should be answered by the prime minister himself.
However, PM Shah has delegated that responsibility to Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle.
Previously, even during discussions on the government's policies and programs, Finance Minister Wagle had responded on behalf of PM Shah.
The rules contain a provision allowing another minister to respond on behalf of the prime minister regarding policies and programs. Citing this provision, the tradition of the prime minister personally providing responses was discontinued.
With the prime minister’s latest decision, the practice of the relevant ministers responding to ministry-wise budget allocations is also set to end.
Had the prime minister attended the House on Thursday and answered questions regarding the budget, lawmakers would have had the opportunity to ask follow-up questions as well.
According to the House regulations, the speaker was required to schedule a question-and-answer session with the prime minister during the first week of Ashadh (third week of June). However, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has not yet scheduled such a session.
