The Bhutanese Leading the way.
At the NA’s question hour this week the works and human settlement minister was asked when the government would establish the 20 Yenlag Thromdes and Thromdes and how it would be institutionalized in alignment with the Constitution.
Works and human settlement minister Lyonpo Dorji Choden said “It is the responsibility of the government to declare the thromdes and the government has done this as per the constitution.” “But the Writ issued by the Supreme Court stated the rescheduling of the Thromde election as it required compressive review of the relevant laws.”
She also said that the Assembly had unanimously identified and declared 20 Yenlag Thromdes and 20 thromdes. “We also discussed with dzongkhag, Local government and people regarding the establishment of Thromdes” Lyonpo Dorji Choden said. “It is not the people who are confused but the policy makers are instilling such fear in them.”
The minister said that if the institution of Thromdes is against the Constitution then everyone in the Assembly violated the Constitution as they voted in favor of the government’s decision.
Lyonpo said the law committee is reviewing the establishment of the Thromdes as per the Supreme Court writ, which says that all dzongkhag Thromdes are “unconstitutional” except Thimphu since all the dzongkhag Thromdes have only six constituencies whereas the Local Government Act states that a minimum of seven constituencies are required in each Thromde.
Regarding the institution of yenlag thromde and thromde, Lyonpo Dorji Choden said that this was being deferred since it is associated with the election process where there is a concerned agency to carry out this work.
The Minister for Works and Human Settlement clarified that all the work done by the government before the declaration of Thromdes by Parliament were lawfully implemented.
