KATHMANDU: The Nepal House of Representatives on Thursday passed a proclamation declaring itself the sovereign and supreme body of the country and massively cutting the king's powers and privileges. It also declared the country a secular state and put the army under its control.

The House also renamed the Government the `Nepal Government' and the army `Nepal Army'. Till now, they were called `His Majesty's Government' and the `Royal Nepal Army'.

The House stripped the King of the title of `Supreme Commander of the Army' and introduced a new provision on the appointment of the Chief of Army Staff. The Cabinet will appoint the Chief of the Army and decide the palace security system.

The proclamation said a new National Security Council, to be constituted under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, would decide the mobilisation of the army. The decision would have to be ratified by the appropriate House committee within a month. The national anthem has been scrapped.

The House proclaimed that it would have the right to enact, amend or annul the laws on the heir to the throne. This means it will have the right to decide the heir to the throne. The House shall decide the royal expenses and facilities; the royal family's income will be taxed and the King's actions can be questioned in court of law. The House scrapped the Rajparishad or Royal Privy Council and said the royal service would be merged with the civil service. The proclamation has opened the way for the Maoists to participate in the national government. "Parties inside and outside Parliament can form a national government to address the challenges facing the country," it said.

The proclamation, passed by the Cabinet in the morning was tabled in the House by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and passed unanimously. A highly placed source told The Hindu that the King was neither consulted nor informed of the proclamation that reduces the "powerful and abusive" monarchy to a ceremonial one.

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