# Rastriya Panchayat

The Rastriya Panchayat (Nepali: राष्ट्रिय पञ्चायत; transl. National Council) was the legislature of the Kingdom of Nepal from during the panchayat era from 1962 to 1990. Following the 1960 coup by King Mahendra, the enactment of the Constitution of 1962, made the Rastriya Panchayat the supreme legislative body in the country, replacing the Parliament of Nepal.
Under the Constitution of Nepal 1962, there were indirect elections to the Rastriya Panchayat. The 1980 referendum voted in favor of a reformed Rastriya Panchayat and consequently, members were directly elected.
The Rastriya Panchayat ceased to exist after the adoption of the Constitution of Nepal, 1990 following the 1990 revolution.

## Responsibilities

The Rastriya Panchayat's responsibilities were considered somewhere in between the Royal Council and a parliament. The council had the right to discuss any subject except the conduct of the monarchy, actions of Supreme Court judges and any outstanding legal cases. The Rastriya Panchayat had legislative powers but the king had unchangeable veto powers under the Panchayat system. It also did not have the power to bring any legislation pertaining to the Royal Nepal Army without the approval of the king. The prime minister and the council of ministers was also appointed by the king from amongst the member of the Rastriya Panchayat.

## Electoral system

The Constitution of Nepal, 1962 created a four-tier panchayat system. The constitution outlawed organized politics and banned all political parties. Consequently, the elections to the assembly followed non-partisan democratic principles.
The village and town panchayats were the base of the system with directly elected members. The local panchayats then voted for members to the district panchayat. The zonal assembly included all the members of the district panchayats in that zone who then elected members from amongst the assembly members to the Rastriya Panchayat. Various class and professional organisations also elected members to the council. The fourteen zonal assemblies elected ninety members and the central committees of five of the seven class organisations elected another fifteen to the Rastriya Panchayat. Four members were elected from among people that had completed post-secondary education. The king had the right to nominate members up to fifteen percent of the total elected members. The members elected from the zonal assembly had a term of six years and the members elected by the organisations and nominated members had a term of four years. A 1968 amendment to the constitution added staggered terms for members elected by zonal assemblies, so that one-third of the members were elected every two years.
Composition of the Rastriya Panchayat (1963–81) :
| Elected by | Members |
| Zonal Assemblies | 90 |
| Peasants' Organisation | 4 |
| Youth Organisation | 4 |
| Women's Organisation | 3 |
| Ex-Servicemen's Organisation | 2 |
| Workers' Organisation | 2 |
| Graduates' Constituency | 4 |
| Nominated by the King | 16 |
After the 1980 referendum, the elections to the Rastriya Panchayat were reformed. Members were elected through direct voting with 40 two-member districts and 35 single member districts. The King nominated 28 members to the council.

## Chair

The chair and vice-chair of the Rastriya Panchayat were appointed by the King on the recommendation of the Rastriya Panchayat from among its members for two year terms.
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| 1 | Bishwa Bandhu Thapa | 19 April 1963 | 5 July 1964 | 1 year, 77 days |
| 2 | Rajeshwor Devkota | 9 July 1964 | 14 April 1965 | 279 days |
| 2 | Rajeshwor Devkota | 19 April 1965 | 27 March 1967 | 1 year, 342 days |
| 3 | Nagendra Prasad Rijal | 11 June 1967 | 13 April 1968 | 307 days |
| 4 | Lalit Chand | 28 June 1968 | 14 April 1970 | 1 year, 290 days |
| 5 | Ram Hari Sharma | 26 June 1970 | 14 April 1971 | 292 days |
| 6 | Rajeshwor Devkota | 27 June 1971 | 9 March 1972 | 256 days |
| 7 | Nagendra Prasad Rijal | 19 June 1972 | 16 July 1973 | 1 year, 27 days |
| (Acting) | Dambar Bahadur Basnet | 16 July 1973 | 10 February 1974 | 209 days |
| 8 | Nain Bahadur Swar | 10 February 1974 | 13 April 1976 | 2 years, 63 days |
| 9 | Ram Hari Sharma | 17 June 1976 | 13 June 1980 | 3 years, 362 days |
| (Acting) | Matrika Prasad Koirala | 17 June 1980 | 18 June 1980 | 1 day |
| 10 | Lokendra Bahadur Chand | 18 June 1980 | 1981 | 9 months |
| Chair of the Reformed Rastriya Panchayat |||||
| 11 | Marich Man Singh Shrestha | 12 June 1981 | 29 March 1986 | 4 years, 290 days |
| (Acting) | Drona Shamsher J.B.R. | 8 June 1986 | 11 June 1986 | 3 days |
| 13 | Nava Raj Subedi | 11 June 1986 | 16 April 1990 | 3 years, 309 days |
The chair and the vice-chair were supported by a twenty one member Steering Committee which advised with regard to proper conduct of business and other matters related to the Rastriya Panchayat.