The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The 25th of March is the last date for those convicted in the Gyalpoizhing land case to appeal in the high court, 13 committee members along with the National Assembly (NA) Speaker have appealed to the high court while the Home minister is yet to decide whether he will appeal or not.
Lyonpo Minjur Dorji said “My conscience is clear and I don’t mind going behind bars.”
The home minister has not yet decided to appeal as he has been very busy with the work and has not really thought about the case.
He was awarded a year in prison for the offence of official misconduct in allotting plots to Kharchu Dratsang, Dremitse Dratsang and to Kuenzang Dema, the wife of a Kurichhu project engineer during his tenure as the Mongar Dzongda and as the Chairman of the Plot Allotment Committee in 2005 and 2006.
The Speaker has also decided to appeal. He was found guilty of illegally allotting plots to 23 individuals, including his maid, during his tenure as Mongar Dzongda and chairman of the plot allotment committee in 1999 and 2002. He had violated Na 1-2 of Thrimzhung Chenmo, which constitutes offences of forgery, deception, and impersonation.
The Speaker had failed to abide by His Majesty’s Kasho issued on 31 March, 1987 and the allotment criteria and guidelines that the works and human settlement ministry prescribed.
The 13 committee members have appealed to high court, except for the plot allotment committee Secretary Dechen Singye who paid thrimthue in lieu of imprisonment.
The committee members were responsible for allotting five plots to individuals who did not qualify for plots in Gyelpozhing.
Chencho Dema / Thimphu
