The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives convened its first meeting on Wednesday, attended by 24 members of parliament. The session lasted approximately an hour and fifteen minutes; however, only 11 MPs remained present at the conclusion. MPs emphasized the necessity of maintaining attendance and fully engaging in discussions to ensure effective meetings. Kathmandu, 12 May. In recent years, the word “hata” has frequently been heard in the federal parliament. This term refers to the tendency of MPs to mark attendance but then leave or shy away from active participation.
Following the formation of parliamentary committees, the Public Accounts Committee held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday under the House of Representatives. After the general elections on 4 March, the parliamentary subject committees were established by 10 April. On 17 April, all committees appointed their chairpersons. After Bharat Bahadur Khadka from the Nepali Congress was chosen as chairperson, the Public Accounts Committee assembled for the first time on Tuesday. At this meeting, some MPs appeared briefly but left shortly afterward. While some expressed their views, others showed little patience in listening to their colleagues’ opinions.
The meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. but commenced approximately 25 minutes late. Committee Chair Khadka informed members that a presentation regarding committee matters was planned. He outlined that the agenda included initial discussions on the subjects and procedural directions the committee would undertake moving forward. Subsequently, Secretary Ekram Giri delivered a presentation on the significance and jurisdiction of the Public Accounts Committee.
The secretary elaborated on the committee’s mandate, including oversight of public accounts, the annual audit report by the Auditor General, and monitoring related entities. During the presentation, attendance was still ongoing. After it concluded, MPs began departing one after another. Some shared their views before leaving, while others exited without comment. Reasons such as discussions in the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure or meetings at party’s parliamentary offices were cited when MPs requested leave from Chair Khadka.
The session lasted roughly one hour and fifteen minutes. Although 24 MPs were present according to attendance records, Nepali Congress MP Mohan Acharya was absent due to being outside Kathmandu. By the time Chair Khadka concluded his address at the meeting’s end, only 11 MPs remained. These included Rashtriya Swatantra Party MPs Bipin Kumar Acharya, Ramesh Kumar Sapkota; Nepali Congress’s Yogesh Gauchan Thakali; Nepali Communist Party’s Mahendra Bahadur Shahi; CPN-UML’s Ganesh Singh Thagunna; Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s Khusbu Oli; and Aryan Rai from the Labour and Culture Party, among others.
The remaining MPs had exited the meeting. One MP expressed concern, saying, “If this is the situation at the first meeting, what will the state of affairs be in the future?” Several MPs stressed the importance of making the Public Accounts Committee more effective. They underscored the need to ensure attendance at the start of meetings and to regulate those leaving before critical discussions or decision-making processes concluded.
Rastriya Swatantra Party MP Bipin Acharya proposed implementing a calendar for parliamentary committee work, highlighting its essentiality. “Let’s take our time and proceed with thorough discussions when needed,” he suggested. He also recommended maintaining records of completed work over specified months. Labour and Culture Party MP Nishkal Rai emphasized focusing on serious financial issues, pointing out that 700 billion rupees have remained unpaid from earlier periods and that new arrears must also be managed. He stressed the gravity of the committee’s responsibilities.
MP Rai further noted that MPs must invest sufficient time to make committee meetings effective. Nepali Communist Party MP Mahendra Bahadur Shahi urged that the Public Accounts Committee should be “work-oriented” and proceed accordingly. He highlighted the need to avoid criticism about the committee’s effectiveness by ensuring all efforts were duly productive.
