DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

As far as speed goes, the roar of political activities is on a slump and it all seems quiet on the highway to 2013, the next democratic elections. Nonetheless, on a quiet note, the new parties continue building their roots toward a firm party-foundation while the two existing parties, the …

“The minutes of board meetings will be disclosed only within RMA premises” The Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) has assured its utmost cooperation to the National Council (NC) and has agreed to provide required-documents and information to review the Indian Rupee (INR) shortfall. The NC Chairperson Namgye Penjore directed the RMA …

A child is like a doll and is incapable of crime, so says, provisions in the books of law, but in the case of two minors who burnt down a hut, all loop holes based on this provision failed to save their legal guardians from the lawfully-ordered compensation payments. The …

The practice of assigning orderlies to senior police and army officials was questioned by the Samdrup Jongkhar MP during the Question and Answer session in the NA. MP Ugyen Dorji’s question was directed to the minister for home and cultural affairs, Lyonpo Minjur Dorji. He said the whole system of …

Much like the pot-hole plagued roads in the country, discussions on the road bill was a bumpy session, the bump in question being the discussions on the rights of owners and occupiers of adjoining land. Many MPs and Ministers had their views and thoughts on the section which talked about …

A joint committee comprising members from National Assembly (NA) and National Council (NC) will be formed to draft proper procedures to pass a private member’s bills. Apparently, this comes to light after rejection of the first private member’s bill which was passed by the NC in the eighth parliamentary session …

The National Assembly (NA) in its course of discussion about formation of a special land committee had derided the roles and responsibilities of organizations relative to land and land issues. The Wangduephodrang MP Passang Thrinlee said independent bodies like Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and others …

The Bhutan Education City Bill was passed by the National Assembly on June 28 with all members except two voting for the bill by show of hands. The two opposition MPs were the only two members who didn’t raise their hands. The house unanimously acknowledged and incorporated all the changes …

The proposal to form a special committee called Poverty Reduction Committee (PRC) which would ‘review chronic land related issues in the country an eradicate poverty’ has been put on hold. The special committee would also review and look into the land related cases which are with the Anti-Corruption Commission and …

The misuse of power by the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) was a topical discussion, deliberated at length in the National Assembly (NA) last week. The issue was raised by the Kabji-Talo MP, Tshering Penjor. The house deliberated on two cases.  One pertained to the Drukair pilot, Sonam Tobgay and the …