Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has on Sunday rescinded the controversial Constitutional Council Act (Amendment) Ordinance on the recommendation of the new government that took office early this week. 

In a statement issued today, the Office of President said she had rescinded the Constitutional Council amendment ordinance at the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. 

For months, many political parties had been demanding the scrapping of the ordinance. 

The previous Oli government had on 4 May enacted the controversial ordinance which bypassed key parliamentary procedures in the appointments of the head of various constitutional bodies. Through the ordinance, Oli had consolidated power in the appointment of the posts to constitutional bodies and democratic institutions. 

International human bodies had also expressed concern over the ordinance and its fallout over the independence of constitutional bodies, including Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission. 

In June, the government had appointed over 20 people to various commissions. 

(SAM)