Govt resolute to make winter session of House ‘bills session’ in true sense

By Pallav Bhusal,Kathmandu, Mar. 9: On 31st January, the coalition government issued six ordinances aimed at amending 31 existing laws. These ordinances were introduced with the intention of improving governance, attracting foreign investment, and streamlining bureaucratic processes. 

The government asserted that the ordinances were brought within constitutional limits, as the parliament was not in session at the time. The amendments targeted various sectors, including public services, business operations, land management, and financial regulations. Five out of the six ordinances have already been endorsed by the federal parliament.

Meanwhile, the winter session of parliament has been notably active, with extensive discussions leading to the passing of several pending bills and regulations. In addition, new bills and laws have been introduced, with the government aiming to pass as many as possible during this session.

As the federal parliament navigates its winter session, the political corridors are busy with legislative urgency and debate over the government’s reliance on ordinances. While the ruling parties push forward with an unprecedented number of bills and amendments, the opposition blames for democratic bypassing and procedural shortcuts.

The winter session, also referred to as the 'bill session,' is traditionally dedicated to drafting, discussing, and passing essential legislation. However, past sessions have been marred by disruptions, political disagreements, and an inability to pass necessary bills. This time, though, the ruling coalition is determined to break that pattern.

While the past sessions have struggled to move forward, Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, Chief Whip of the CPN-UML in the House of Representatives, highlighted that this session is set to be a legislative milestone.

“In the four sessions before this, we passed only 11 bills. That is an appalling number, and it shows the weak functioning of the previous government. This time, the government has prioritised parliamentary effectiveness, and the impact is already visible,” said Bartaula.

The Federal Civil Service Act has been accorded a top priority, with the government also aiming to amend 80 different laws under the Nepal Act. In addition, key legislations like the Water Resources Bill and the Customs Bill are expected to pass before the session concludes.

“The lawmaking process needs structure and efficiency. Ministers have been instructed to take a more active role in pushing relevant bills forward. We have urged parliamentary committees to hold regular meetings and maintain a strong presence in discussions,” added Bartaula.

The ruling coalition has also used ordinances to push through urgent legal changes.  As stated above, five ordinances have already been passed, with the replacement bills set to be discussed by the 12th of March. “We now have a clear roadmap to finalise these bills within 15 to 20 days. This session will last another month, and by then, we hope to have more laws passed than any of the previous sessions,” said Bartaula.

The ruling coalition is focused on endorsing, amending, and passing as many bills and acts as possible.

Krishna Bahadur Rokaya, Chief Whip of the Nepali Congress in the National Assembly, pointed out that the winter session is fundamentally crucial for lawmaking.

“We also call the winter session the bill session, because it is the main session for passing the bills. However, in the past, sessions were often disrupted, discussions remained limited, and only a handful of bills made it through,” said Rokaya. “This time, the government and the ruling parties, especially Nepali Congress and UML, have actively engaged in discussions, and we have already passed significant bills and ordinances,” he added.

According to him, the government has introduced 12 new bills in addition to the pending ones, including some that date back to 2019/20. While these bills languished in uncertainty for years, Rokaya believes this session will be different. “We are working according to the people’s wishes. The parliament has been far more effective this time,” he said.

The numbers support his claim, 15 bills are under discussion in the House of Representatives, four in the National Assembly, and major legislative changes are being pushed through. “Compared to previous years, this session has been impressive. The goal is to ensure that by the end of this session, we pass maximum number of bills,” said Rokaya.

While the ruling coalition argues that ordinances have been a necessary tool to ensure legislative progress, the opposition sees them as a worrying sign of executive overreach.

Gopibahadur Sarki Achami, Chief Whip of the CPN (Maoist Centre) in the National Assembly, strongly criticised the government’s approach. 

“If the government had introduced regular bills instead of ordinances while both houses were in session, it would have strengthened the democratic process. Instead, the government has chosen a route that bypasses parliamentary scrutiny,” said Achami.

Achami highlighted that the government has introduced six ordinances while simultaneously amending 31 laws. “This is not how democracy functions. Calling a session on one hand and pushing ordinances on the other is an attack on democratic values, procedures, and the authority of a sovereign parliament,” he said.

After withdrawing the ordinance related to land management, the government is now amending 28 laws. While the ordinances have been approved by both houses, Achami insists that the opposition should have been taken on board in the process. “These issues should have come to the House in the form of bills, not ordinances,” he said.

Despite the debate over ordinances, there is little doubt that the winter session has been more active than previous ones. The lawmakers have been more engaged, bills are moving faster, and the government seems determined to make progress. However, a question remains, will this proactive momentum be sustained, or will political conflicts once again stall the progress?

One clear takeaway is that both ruling and opposition parties acknowledge the need for a more structured and effective lawmaking process. While the government is pushing to pass as many bills as possible, the opposition is keen to ensure that democratic procedures are not disregarded. The coming weeks will determine whether Nepal’s winter session truly becomes a legislative success or it falls into the same pattern of delay and political disputes.

For now, the lawmakers remain engaged, the discussions continue, and the nation watches closely as the winter session gathers steam.