Kathmandu, Feb 15: The parliamentary committee on rules and regulations has agreed to establish rules to suspend lawmakers if they are charged with serious criminal offenses such as murder, rape, drug trafficking, theft, and robbery. The committee’s decision to suspend the lawmaker in question follows a court order to send them to the opposition.

In the past, there was no provision for “suspension” in the parliamentary regulations, which is why even lawmakers who were accused of serious criminal offenses were not suspended. During the previous meeting, Nepali Congress, CPN-Maoist, Rastriya Janmorcha, RSP and Unified Socialist Party, agreed to the suspension of lawmakers who are sent to opposition in cases of serious criminal charges. Those who were not in favor of suspension were the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), JSP, LSP, and Independent MPs.

However, during the meeting on Wednesday, the CPN UML also agreed to the suspension of the lawmaker in question following the court’s order to send them to the opposition.

As criminal offenses such as murder and rape are more complex than corruption, legal experts have said that the provision for suspension should apply even in such cases. Prior to this, the Nepali Congress and other parties had expressed reservations about the matter.