The 20th Annual Judicial Conference began today in Thimphu. The three-day conference will discuss issues relating to matrimonial cases, collection of Semso and enforcement of judgment.
The gathering will also see discussion on whether the court should apply the Road Safety and Transport Act 1997 or Bhutan Penal Code in awarding compensatory damages beside many others. The judiciary also has plans to start e-litigation. The Chief Justice of Bhutan, Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye, in an exclusive interview with the BBS said judiciary has to gain more public confidence. “This I think we have to do it. And also we have to prevent future incidence by strengthening judicial code of conduct. The judicial process of Bhutan is very exhaustive, we have one of the best judicial process. There is about nine stages of hearings generally.”
Lyonpo said some of the hearings can be done through internet. “The court will be saved from about three to four hearings which takes actually lot of time. And then the judges’ time will be much more usefully used or fruitfully used that also will affect the quality of justice and hopefully the litigants also will benefit from it because they don’t have to come to the court. This we want to start,” said the Chief Justice.
On the increasing number of stabbing cases in the country, our reporter Tandin Phuntsho, asked the Chief Justice whether it could be because of the leniency in the Law. Lyonpo disagreed. “I don’t think it is the leniency or it is due to flexible approach of punishment.”
Lyonpo said it needs certain measures. “First measure is legislative measure. I think the parliament should look into some of the punishments not necessarily for retributive. I think we have to look into much broader issues. Second thing is the reformative measures that we take when they are incarcerated, they tend to get hardened and this we must prevent it through certain legal education and other reform measures,” said Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye.
