The Opposition says that the government’s decision of removing Zhemgang from tourism flagship programme and replacing it with Sarpang is illegal. The Opposition wrote a letter to the National Assembly speaker yesterday, seeking to revoke the government’s decision and reconsider Zhemgang as one of the focus districts in the tourism flagship programme as approved in the Budget Appropriation Act 2019-2020.
The government had initially included Zhemgang district in the Tourism Council of Bhutan’s flagship programme with three other districts to promote balanced tourism but later altered the decision.
The letter stated that the Opposition is deeply concerned by the unlawful decision of the government in violation of the Budget Appropriation Bill which was passed by the parliament. It mentioned that once it is passed by both the houses and granted the Royal Assent by His Majesty The King, the government has no legitimacy to amend and it has to be implemented as approved.
The Opposition Party’s Vice President Ugyen Wangdi said, the government failed to respect the provisions of the law and infringed the authority of the parliament too.
“As per the constitution article 14, section 2, 4 and article 20, section 8, Public Finance Act section 62, when we review all these provisions, it is clear that once the budget or any other activity approved by the parliament in the form of a money bill, it cannot be amended without the concurrence of the parliament. So, therefore, we truly believe that the decision taken by the government to change the tourism flagship programme earmark for Zhemgang dzongkhag for Sarpang dzongkhag is a violation of the constitution and relevant laws,” said Ugyen Wangdi, Vice President of the Opposition Party.
He added that it was policy until it was submitted to the parliament but once the Appropriation Bill is passed by the parliament and assented by His Majesty The King, it becomes an Act and he said, the government has no authority to change and amend it without the full proceedings of the parliament.
On the 15th of this month, the National Council also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister expressing their concern on the government’s decision of replacing Zhemgang with Sarpang as one of the four focus districts in the flagship programme. The House requested the government to review and take appropriate actions against the decision. The deputy chairperson of the National Council in a telephone interview said, the decision is against the law and such decisions will set an unhealthy precedent.
On the other hand, Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji, who is also the chairman of the Tourism Council of Bhutan said, the government has the power to change decisions. However, if their legal advisors say it’s illegal, the government would keep the proposed change pending and put it in the next budget presentation. The minister added, the Opposition members did not approach him as a TCB chairperson for any discussion if they felt the decision was illegal.
Earlier, during a press conference, the Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji said, the government’s decision of replacing Zhemgang with Sarpang in the programme was taken as it will have greater benefits to nearby dzongkhags including Zhemgang. The minister added that the government also looked into tourists arrivals in the two districts while taking the decision. And also Sarpang having the availability of land space for further development which Zhemgang does not have.
When BBS asked the Supreme Court for its interpretation on the issue, they said, they cannot comment on political issues which has nothing to do with the judiciary.
