President Ramchandra Paudel Promulgates Constitutional Council Ordinance, Enabling Appointment of Key Constitutional Posts in Nepal

Overview On May 5, 2026 , President Ramchandra Paudel promulgated the Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Powers and Procedure) Ordinance, 2026 . The ordinance restores the mechanism for the Constitutional Council to recommend and approve appointments to constitutional bodies, including the long‑vacant post of Chief Justice . Key Developments The ordinance was sent back for review on May 3, 2026 and resubmitted by the government on May 4, 2026 . Promulgation on May 5, 2026 clears the procedural bottleneck, allowing immediate appointments. The six‑member Constitutional Council includes the Prime Minister (chair), the Chief Justice , the Speaker , the National Assembly Chair , the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives, and the Deputy Speaker. The ordinance empowers the government to fill vacancies in bodies such as the Supreme Court, Election Commission, and other constitutional institutions. Important Facts Number of members in the Constitutional Council : six. Key positions pending appointment before the ordinance: Chief Justice , members of the Election Commission, and heads of various statutory bodies. The ordinance is a form of Ordinance , which carries the same legal weight as a parliamentary act until it is debated. UPSC Relevance The episode illustrates the functioning of Nepal’s constitutional framework, a frequent topic in GS2: Polity . Understanding the composition and powers of the Constitutional Council helps aspirants compare federal appointment mechanisms with India’s collegium and the role of the President in promulgating ordinances. The case also underscores the importance of judicial independence and the procedural safeguards for high‑court appointments. Way Forward Following the promulgation, the government is expected to nominate candidates for the vacant posts, subject to the approval of the Constitutional Council . Monitoring the subsequent parliamentary debate will reveal whether the ordinance will be ratified or amended, shaping the future of Nepal’s constitutional governance.