Expressing dissatisfaction with BICMA’s explanation at a court hearing today, the Trongsa District court has once again ordered Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) to submit a detailed explanation for authorizing the publication of the book titled ‘Turning Point’.
One of the defendants, a former lecturer in the alleged student molesting case of College of Language and Culture Studies in Trongsa, wrote the book while he was out on bail.
Trongsa court had summoned BICMA for clarification after Trongsa police had alleged that the publication of the book was in contempt of court as the case was subjudice.
At the hearing today, the BICMA lawyer said the publication license and registration number of the book was issued based on Section 208 of the Information, Communication and Media Act 2018. The section states that the Authority shall, when considering the applications for publishing licenses, have due regard to the importance of freedom of speech, diverse and vibrant media, convergence of information and communications technology, business and healthy competition among publishers in Bhutan.
However, the court did not accept the explanation and ordered BICMA to re-submit detailed explanations on why BICMA sanctioned a license and registration for the book when the book was alleged to have some elements against some institutions. The court has also asked BICMA to explain the authority’s future action with regard to the book and why the court should not take action against BICMA.
The court has ordered BICMA to submit the explanation with July 20.
The book launched on December 29 last year includes details of how nine lecturers were compulsorily retired by the management of the College of Language and Culture Studies following sexual harassment and molestation complaints submitted by 19 female students in May 2020.
Passang
