Nepal amends constitution to allow VP to resume duties

Nepal’s legislature parliament endorsed a seventh amendment to the interim constitution on Thursday evening paving way for the President and Vice President to take oath of office in their mother tongue. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Jan 29, 2010, 15:31:57 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal’s legislature parliament endorsed a seventh amendment to the interim constitution on Thursday evening paving way for the President and Vice President to take oath of office in their mother tongue.

With this move Vice-President-elect Parmanand Jha whose post had remained vacant since September last year following a Supreme Court order will now be able to resume his duties after taking oath for the second time.

Jha had taken oath in Hindi on July 23, 2008. The move was challenged in Supreme Court which termed it unconstitutional and asked him to take a fresh oath within seven days in Nepali.

His refusal to comply with the order led to the post lying defunct for many months. Thursday’s amendment, which was seconded by all but four of the 503 members present, would pave the way for Jha to assume office.

While the interim constitution had prevented the President and Vice President from taking oath of office and secrecy in their mother tongue, it was not the case for any member of parliament who can take oath in language of their choice.

According to sources, Jha would take oath and assume office within a week thus doing away with any confusion over who would be in charge when President Ram Baran Yadav visits India next month.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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