Parliamentarians Allowed to Take Oath in Mother Tongue and Wear Attire Reflecting Their Identity

April 17, Kathmandu – The oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected members of the House of Representatives is planned for March 26.

Among the new members, the senior-most member will take the oath from the President, after which the senior member will administer the oath to the rest of the members.

As per the 2022 Oath Taking Act, members of parliament are allowed to wear attire that represents their identity and take the oath in their mother tongue.

Section 4 of the Act requires the presence of parliamentarians in formal attire.

It states: “Any person assuming a public office must appear wearing formal attire prescribed by the Government of Nepal when taking or administering an oath.”

The section also provides for wearing dignified clothing or attire that reflects the individual’s culture, tradition, or identity while taking or administering the oath.

Section 5 covers the language provisions linked to oath-taking, stating that the oath must be taken or administered in Nepali, the official language for government functions.

Additionally, public office holders are allowed to take their oath in their mother tongue.

“Those wishing to take the oath in their mother tongue must submit a certified translation of the oath, as listed in the schedule, to the officiating authority prior to taking the oath,” subsection 2 of Section 5 details.

Furthermore, public office holders who take the oath in Nepali must submit two copies of the oath, and those taking it in their mother tongue must submit two signed copies of the oath in their mother tongue to the officiating authorities.