{"id":8897,"date":"2026-05-22T12:18:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:33:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/?p=8897"},"modified":"2026-05-22T12:18:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:33:54","slug":"nepals-constitutional-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/articles\/nepals-constitutional-council\/","title":{"rendered":"Nepal\u2019s Constitutional Council: Comparing the 2066 Act and the 2083 Ordinance"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8897\" class=\"elementor elementor-8897\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f22fa9a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f22fa9a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bcb4de4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bcb4de4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Constitutional Council is a constitutional body established under <a href=\"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/Laws\/constitution-of-nepal-2072\/part-32-miscellaneous\/article-284-provisions-relating-to-the-constitutional-council\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Article 284 of the Constitution of Nepal<\/a> (2072) which is responsible for recommending individuals for the appointment of key constitutional positions, including the Chief Justice and Chiefs and Officials of Constitutional Bodies. This Constitutional council and its activities are guided by a federal law named Constitutional Council Act, 2066.\u00a0<\/p><p>Nepal\u2019s government in Baisakh 2083, passed and brought ordinances, among which was an\u00a0 ordinance that changes certain provisions in the currently operational constitutional council\u2019s laws This article aims to examine the legal foundations of Constitutional Council of Nepal and provides a comparative analysis of Constitutional Council Act 2066 and the new Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Power and Procedures) (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2083.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c684fbf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c684fbf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\" id=\"toc-legal-basis-of-constitutional-council-in-nepal\">Legal Basis of Constitutional Council in Nepal<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07399fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"07399fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The constitutional and legal foundations governing the Constitutional Council in Nepal is established under the Constitution of Nepal (2072) and <a href=\"https:\/\/lawcommission.gov.np\/content\/13429\/constitutional-council--work--duties--rights-and-articles-\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Constitutional Council Act, 2066<\/a>.The new Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Power and Procedures) (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2083 came to amend section 6 and 7 of the 2066 Act.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39abce9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"39abce9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\" id=\"toc-1-the-constitutional-framework\">1. The Constitutional Framework<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f0af4f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f0af4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Article 284 of Constitution of Nepal (2072) is the law which provides the formation of this Constitutional Council. The Council, as required by the constitution, works to recommend the Chief Justice and the heads and members of various Constitutional bodies, such as the CIAA, the Election Commission, the Public Service Commission etc.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf967a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bf967a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Mandated Membership<\/span><\/h4><p>The members that form the constitutional council is already written within the constitution of Nepal 2072, which requires a more complex process to bring changes as constitution is the supreme law of land and bringing changes within the constitution is different.<\/p><p>Article 284 lists six members for the Council.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2aaff31 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"2aaff31\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check-square\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M400 480H48c-26.51 0-48-21.49-48-48V80c0-26.51 21.49-48 48-48h352c26.51 0 48 21.49 48 48v352c0 26.51-21.49 48-48 48zm-204.686-98.059l184-184c6.248-6.248 6.248-16.379 0-22.627l-22.627-22.627c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.249-22.628 0L184 302.745l-70.059-70.059c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.248-22.628 0l-22.627 22.627c-6.248 6.248-6.248 16.379 0 22.627l104 104c6.249 6.25 16.379 6.25 22.628.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Prime Minister (Chairperson)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check-square\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M400 480H48c-26.51 0-48-21.49-48-48V80c0-26.51 21.49-48 48-48h352c26.51 0 48 21.49 48 48v352c0 26.51-21.49 48-48 48zm-204.686-98.059l184-184c6.248-6.248 6.248-16.379 0-22.627l-22.627-22.627c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.249-22.628 0L184 302.745l-70.059-70.059c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.248-22.628 0l-22.627 22.627c-6.248 6.248-6.248 16.379 0 22.627l104 104c6.249 6.25 16.379 6.25 22.628.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Chief Justice (Member)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check-square\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M400 480H48c-26.51 0-48-21.49-48-48V80c0-26.51 21.49-48 48-48h352c26.51 0 48 21.49 48 48v352c0 26.51-21.49 48-48 48zm-204.686-98.059l184-184c6.248-6.248 6.248-16.379 0-22.627l-22.627-22.627c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.249-22.628 0L184 302.745l-70.059-70.059c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.248-22.628 0l-22.627 22.627c-6.248 6.248-6.248 16.379 0 22.627l104 104c6.249 6.25 16.379 6.25 22.628.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Speaker of the House of Representatives (Member)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check-square\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M400 480H48c-26.51 0-48-21.49-48-48V80c0-26.51 21.49-48 48-48h352c26.51 0 48 21.49 48 48v352c0 26.51-21.49 48-48 48zm-204.686-98.059l184-184c6.248-6.248 6.248-16.379 0-22.627l-22.627-22.627c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.249-22.628 0L184 302.745l-70.059-70.059c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.248-22.628 0l-22.627 22.627c-6.248 6.248-6.248 16.379 0 22.627l104 104c6.249 6.25 16.379 6.25 22.628.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Chairperson of the National Assembly (Member)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check-square\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M400 480H48c-26.51 0-48-21.49-48-48V80c0-26.51 21.49-48 48-48h352c26.51 0 48 21.49 48 48v352c0 26.51-21.49 48-48 48zm-204.686-98.059l184-184c6.248-6.248 6.248-16.379 0-22.627l-22.627-22.627c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.249-22.628 0L184 302.745l-70.059-70.059c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.248-22.628 0l-22.627 22.627c-6.248 6.248-6.248 16.379 0 22.627l104 104c6.249 6.25 16.379 6.25 22.628.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Leader of the Opposition Party in the House of Representatives (Member)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check-square\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M400 480H48c-26.51 0-48-21.49-48-48V80c0-26.51 21.49-48 48-48h352c26.51 0 48 21.49 48 48v352c0 26.51-21.49 48-48 48zm-204.686-98.059l184-184c6.248-6.248 6.248-16.379 0-22.627l-22.627-22.627c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.249-22.628 0L184 302.745l-70.059-70.059c-6.248-6.248-16.379-6.248-22.628 0l-22.627 22.627c-6.248 6.248-6.248 16.379 0 22.627l104 104c6.249 6.25 16.379 6.25 22.628.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (Member)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5bddcd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c5bddcd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\" id=\"toc-2-statutory-provision\">2. Statutory Provision<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98d5c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"98d5c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Section 5 of the Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Powers, and Procedures) Act, 2066 (2010) requires the Council to give recommendation considering candidates based on their social prestige, high moral character, honesty, and professional experience. As per Section 8, the office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers performs the functions of the Secretariat of the Council.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1143d48 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1143d48\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\" id=\"toc-3-parliamentary-hearings\">3. Parliamentary hearings<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57222c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"57222c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Constitutional Council recommends candidates, each of whom must undergo a public hearing by a 15-member joint committee of both the Houses of the Federal Parliament. Only after passing this hearing does a candidate become a final appointment by the President. This process ensures that the Council&#8217;s recommendations are subject to parliamentary accountability under Article 292 of the Constitution of Nepal 2072 B.S.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2ac09c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f2ac09c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\" id=\"toc-comparative-analysis\">Comparative Analysis<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-324e268 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"324e268\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The major changes brought by the new Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Power and Procedures) (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2083 in the Constitutional Council Act 2066 are mentioned below:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4bf6c2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"4bf6c2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<table style=\"width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;\">\r\n  <thead>\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd; background:#c8102e !important; color:#fff !important;\">\r\n        Provisions\r\n      <\/th>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd; background:#c8102e !important; color:#fff !important;\">\r\n        Act of 2066\r\n      <\/th>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd; background:#c8102e !important; color:#fff !important;\">\r\n        Ordinance of 2083\r\n      <\/th>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n  <\/thead>\r\n  <tbody>\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Quorum [Section 6(4)]<\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Need of a chairperson and at least four other members to hold meeting. (Total of 5 out of 6)\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Need of a chairperson and at least three other members to hold meeting. (Total of 4 out of 6)\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Decision Making [Section 6(5)]<\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Requirement of unanimous consensus to make decision.\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Decision can be made by a majority if consensus is not reached.\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Recommendation [Section 7(2)]<\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        No detail explanation on the process for sending names to the President.\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        The Secretary sends the name to the President\u2019s Office immediately after the Parliamentary Hearing.\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Added provision on Hearing Rejections [Section 7(3), 7(4)]\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        No provision\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:10px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        The Council must meet and recommend a new person immediately if the Parliamentary Hearing Committee rejects a name.\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n  <\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ed7063 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ed7063\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\" id=\"toc-conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e81aa9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e81aa9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Therefore, Nepal\u2019s Constitutional Council now selects officials using a majority vote instead of requiring every member to agree. The 2083 Ordinance uses Article 114 and Section 6 to lower the number of members needed to hold a meeting and make a final decision. This new process helped fill the empty seats of the Chief Justice and sixteen commission leaders after a long delay. This system ensures that political disagreements do not stop the government from functioning.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Constitutional Council is a constitutional body established under Article 284 of the Constitution of Nepal (2072) which is responsible for recommending individuals for the appointment of key constitutional positions, including the Chief Justice and Chiefs and Officials of Constitutional Bodies. This Constitutional council and its activities are guided by a federal law named Constitutional [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":8936,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,26,27],"tags":[25,24],"class_list":["post-8897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-federal-election","category-constitutional-council","category-legal-education","tag-constitutional-council","tag-parliament-of-nepal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8897"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8897\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8954,"href":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8897\/revisions\/8954"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nepallaws.com\/election\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}