By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 16: President Bidya Devi Bhandari Tuesday issued the Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Rights and Procedures) Amendment Ordinance.
A meeting of the Council of Ministers held at the official residence of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Baluwatar on Tuesday had decided to recommend President Bhandari for the issuance of the ordinance, Minister for Communication and Information Technology and government spokesperson Parbat Gurung confirmed after the meeting.
The President issued the ordinance on the basis of the recommendation of the Cabinet meeting held today, Joint Secretary and spokesperson Badrinath Adhikari at the Office of President also confirmed.
According to the Office of the President, President Bhandari issued the Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Rights and Procedures) Ordinance, First Amendment, 2077 B.S on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers pursuant to Article 114 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal.
The meeting of the Constitutional Council that convened on Sunday and Tuesday morning could not proceed in lack of quorum.
As the quorum could not be met in absence of one member, today's prescheduled meeting of the Council was deferred.
The Ordinance has allowed the Constitutional Council to take any decision on the basis of majority of the sitting members of the Council.

What is in the Ordinance?
According to the text published in the Nepal Gazette on Tuesday evening, the government has made an arrangement through the Ordinance to hold the meeting of the Constitutional Council if majority members, including the chairman, are present.
In this case, the meeting can be held even if there are three members as currently there are only five members in Constitutional Council as the post of Deputy Speaker of the Federal Parliament is vacant.
It states that any decision would be taken unanimously. It is also mentioned that if no decision is taken in the first meeting, the decision will be taken on the basis of majority of the members immediately. In such a situation, three members will be able to decide. As per the provisions of the Ordinance, the meeting will be held and decision can be taken even if the Speaker and the leader of the main opposition party are absent.