Kathmandu, May 25 -- A provision in draft regulations prepared by the House of Representatives Rules Drafting Committee has triggered controversy after constitutional experts and opposition lawmakers argued that it contradicts Nepal's constitution on the procedure for amending the supreme law.

The dispute centres on Rule 140(11) of the proposed House regulations, which says that a constitutional amendment bill will be forwarded to the President by the Speaker for authentication if the total votes supporting the proposal in both houses together amount to at least a two-thirds majority of the total existing membership of the federal parliament.

Critics argue that the constitution clearly requires separate two-thirds approval in both house...