Security Printing Bill-2077 not tabled in lack of quorum

Although the proposal seeking consideration on ‘Security Printing Bill-2077’ received from the National Assembly with message was included in the agenda of the House of Representatives for Wednesday, it was not tabled in lack of quorum.

Before presenting the proposal as the decision, Whip of the CPN (UML), Mahesh Bartaula, demanded Speaker Devraj Ghimire to determine the quorum. Soon after Bartaula’s demand, Speaker Ghimire directed the Secretariat to determine the quorum.

Saying only 61 lawmakers were present in the meeting, the Speaker informed about the postponement of all remaining programmes included in the agenda for Wednesday. At least one-third or 69 lawmakers should be present while presenting any proposal as the decision.

Before this, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, had presented the proposal, seeking consideration in the parliament.

Responding to queries raised by lawmakers, Minister Sharma said initiatives were underway to start printing materials related to security by purchasing equipment and constructing infrastructures as laws related to security printing was necessary in the country.

A total of 15 lawmakers including Gyanendra Bahadur Malla, Mahesh Bartaula, Roshan Karki and Raghuji Panta had put forth their views on the bill.

The HoR will meet next on April 16.