The Social and Cultural Committee of the National Assembly recommended that a person appointed as the Holder, Member and Commissioner of a Constitutional Office shall resign from his/her previous office with post-service benefits. However, with a majority in favour of Council’s resolution, the House decided to exclude members and commissioner from resigning.
In current practice, any Holders, Members and Commissioners of Constitutional Offices resign from their previous post after they are appointed. This is in line with the Entitlement and Service Conditions Act for Holders, Members and Commissioners of Constitutional Offices 2010. The Committee’s recommendation is also the original section of 2010 ACT.
“They serve 20 years in government service. The minimum year to qualify for is 20 years. 45 years is gone in that. If they serve for two terms, their age reaches 55. And members and commissioners also have an opportunity to hold a higher post. It is for 5 years. Calculating these, the person serving reached a minimum of 60 years. That’s why from our side, a person will have to resign from their previous post after serving for five years,” proposed Ugen Tenzin, the Chairperson of the Social and Cultural Committee of the National Assembly.
“These people should work independently and not be under RCSC. They should get post-service benefits and resign. The NC’s recommendation proposes these people to work under constitutional offices without resigning from the previous post. If that’s the case we have doubt if they can work independently,” supported Karma Wangchuk, the Chhumig Ura’s Member of Parliament (MP).
The Council, however, passed a resolution stating that only holder of a Constitutional Office have to resign from his/her previous office with post-service benefits. Members and commissioner should therefore be allowed to go back to their previous post after their term is over. Many supported the council’s recommendation.
“After serving for five years, if a commissioner gets reappointed, it is good. But if this isn’t the case, it’s like giving bigger responsibility at first because the person is capable but after five years, if they are to resign, the very rule mismatches,” said Yeshey Penjor, the Agriculture Minister.
“When it comes to commissioners and members, if they are appointed at a very young age, and if they are not reappointed again, they will have to resign at a very young age. These people are the main human resource. So if they are not reappointed the second time, they should go back to their previous post or any other civil servants,” supported Tenzin, the Khatoed Laya MP.
The Bill will be tabled for adoption tomorrow.
Samten Dolkar/Kinley Dem
