KATHMANDU, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government
has tabled a bill in the House of Representation proposing amendments to laws
that give special status or privileges to the king and the royal family, a media
group's website Kantipur.com reported on Friday.
According to the report, Minister for Law, Justice
and Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Bikram Nembang tabled the "Bill to Amend Some
Nepal Laws" at the house meeting, proposing to oust the king from the
universities, religious site development trusts and nature conservation trusts,
among others.
Once the bill is passed, the king will no longer be
chancellor of the country's two oldest universities -- Tribhuvan and Mahendra
Sanskrit.
He will also not remain patron of King Mahendra Trust
Nature Conservation, Pashupati Area Development Trust and Lumbini Development
Trust.
Similarly, the crown prince will be replaced by the
prime minister as patron of the National Sports Council.
The government has also proposed to change the name
of Mahendra Sanskrit University to Nepal Sanskrit University.
All these positions till now held by the king will be
looked after by the prime minister.
The government has not been able to appoint executive
officers at the universities because of delay in amending these laws.
Passage of the bills by the house will pave the way
for new appointments.
After the amendment, the cabinet will exercise all
executive powers.
From now onwards, the cabinet will appoint the
judicial council secretary and the chiefs and members of the national human
rights council and other constitutional bodies.
Similarly, constitutional bodies will have to present
their annual reports to the prime minister instead of the king.
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