Related: Nepali PM tables proposal to deprive king's privileges

    

Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala addresses MPs in Kathmandu May 18, 2006.  (Xinhua/AFP)

KATHMANDU, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali House of Representatives (HoR) passed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's "historic" proposal on Thursday, which aims to deprive the king of all privileges.

    The passed declaration called for the scraping of king's title as Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Nepalese Army, thus deprive his control over 90,000 soldiers of the country.

    Besides, the declaration suggested the dissolution of the Raj Parishad (Royal Council) Standing Committee. The job of the royal advisory body, which became controversial following the Feb. 1, 2005 royal takeover, will be taken care of by the HoR itself, according to the proposal.

    The declaration has also asked to deprive the king from his discretionary powers that were stipulated in the constitution of the kingdom of Nepal, 1990. Under the declaration, the monarch will not have any authority to enact the law concerning royal succession, which will be done by the parliament.

    Another major change made by the proposed declaration is changing the name of the Royal Nepalese Army into Nepal National Army, and replacing "His Majesty's Government" with the " Government of Nepal".

    The monarch will no longer convene a session of the parliament as stipulated in the constitution. According to the new proposal, the Speaker of the HoR shall convene the session on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. A special session of the HoRcan be called on the request from 25 percent of the lawmakers.

    The cabinet will decide about the appointment of the army chief,mobilization of the army will be done as per the decision of the council of ministers. However, that will have to be approved by the stipulated parliamentary committee.

    The declaration has also made the income and assets of the king taxable.

    The HoR declaration is so powerful that it has declared all the provisions of the Constitution and laws that contradict this declaration "as nullified". Enditem