Prime minister who does not call on the President

Four months into his term, Prime Minister Balendra Shah has largely avoided direct engagement with President Ramchandra Paudel, maintaining a near-absent relationship outside of mandatory official ceremonies. This distance means major governmental actions, such as cabinet changes, parliamentary sessions, and ordinance approvals, proceed without the customary one-on-one discussions between the head of government and the head of state.

Officials at Sheetal Niwas, the President's official residence, perceive Shah's behavior as a clear departure from established democratic protocols. A senior official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the Prime Minister has not visited to discuss governance or state affairs since his inauguration. The official expressed disappointment over the government's failure to submit its annual performance report to the President, a practice followed by previous prime ministers.

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Past prime ministers personally submitted the Cabinet's annual report to the President before it was forwarded to parliament. The report for the previous fiscal year, which was due by mid-July, has still not been submitted.

According to the official, the constitution mandates that the prime minister remain accountable to both Parliament and the head of state. This includes personally informing the President about the nation's law and order, economic conditions, diplomatic activities, cabinet decisions, and pending legislation. "By ignoring these duties, the prime minister signals a disregard for our democratic system and the constitution itself," the official stated.

Constitutional Article 81 and Rule 36(A) of the Government of Nepal (Work Performance) regulations outline the prime minister's obligation to keep the President informed on various matters, including Cabinet decisions, proposed bills, and the general domestic and foreign affairs situation. While no strict timetable exists for face-to-face meetings, consulting the President on significant national issues has been standard practice. The recent unrest in Sunsari district serves as an example where, according to governing rules, major security developments should be directly reported to the President's office, a briefing that was reportedly not provided by the Prime Minister.

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The prime minister must personally inform the President about the law and order situation in the country, economic situation, diplomatic activities, Cabinet decisions, and bills under consideration in Parliament. This obligation applies to executive authorities and heads of constitutional bodies alike. That is the essence of constitutionalism. By ignoring these duties, the prime minister signals a disregard for our democratic system and the constitution itself.