Lawmakers will no longer be allowed to wear dark sunglasses during House of Representatives meetings.
Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has instructed chief whips and whips of all political parties to inform their lawmakers that wearing dark sunglasses in the House will no longer be permitted.
During Wednesday's meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, Speaker Aryal said that the issue had repeatedly drawn questions and criticism, prompting the decision to prohibit lawmakers from wearing dark sunglasses during parliamentary proceedings.
Prime Minister Balen Shah, Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Infrastructure Minister Sunil Lamsal, and several lawmakers have regularly attended House meetings wearing dark sunglasses.
Basana Thapa, chief whip of the main opposition Nepali Congress who attended the committee meeting, said that the speaker informed members that lawmakers would no longer be allowed to wear dark sunglasses during House sessions.
"Questions have been raised repeatedly regarding the issue of lawmakers wearing dark sunglasses. From now on, lawmakers should not wear dark sunglasses during parliamentary meetings," Thapa quoted the speaker as saying. "Chief whips and whips should inform their lawmakers about this."
Following the speaker's directive, Thapa said that the rule should apply equally to everyone, noting, noting that the prime minister and ministers too frequently attend House meetings wearing dark sunglasses.
"The prime minister and ministers themselves often attend Parliament wearing dark sunglasses. The speaker should tell them," she said. "We will ask our lawmakers not to wear dark sunglasses from now on."
Speaker Aryal then requested Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Whip Prakash Chandra Pariyar to inform the government about the decision.
Pariyar said that the issue was raised during discussions on maintaining the dignity of Parliament.
"The topic regarding dark sunglasses was also raised during discussions on making parliamentary meetings more dignified," he said. "There was also discussion on the need for lawmakers to attend Parliament wearing official logos and dignified attire."
Nepali Communist Party Chief Whip Yuvaraj Dulal said that the speaker stressed the need to uphold the dignity and values of Parliament during the committee meeting.
"The speaker said that the dignity and norms of Parliament are not being maintained, that this doesn't happen anywhere else in the world, that coats should be worn, and that wearing dark glasses doesn't look good. He suggested reducing such practices and should be reduced"We have asked the speaker to communicate this to the government."
The speaker also expressed dissatisfaction over lawmakers spending long periods standing and chatting in the lobby outside the meeting hall while a Parliament session is ongoing.
"Lawmakers continue chatting in the lobby while a meeting is underway. This should not happen," he said.
The speaker's directive prohibiting lawmakers from wearing dark sunglasses in Parliament has generated speculation on whether lawmakers, ministers and the prime minister will comply with the new rule.
When asked about it, RSP Whip Pariyar said, "This is linked to how lawmakers should become dignified rather than whether it applies to the prime minister."
He, however, said that the speaker's instructions would be communicated to all lawmakers.
The House of Representatives Regulations contain provisions regarding members' dress code and insignia.
Under the regulations, the speaker, in consultation with the Business Advisory Committee, determines the dress code for members.
The rules mention that when prescribing attire, attention must be paid to formal and dignified attire reflecting indigenous culture and tradition or identity.
Lawmakers wearing dark sunglasses in Parliament:
