It has been three years since the Supreme Court ordered Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde to compensate a resident with over Nu 27 M in connection to the Zangdopelri land case. The thromde could not complete the due process due to financial constraints and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the finance ministry recently instructed the thromde to use its capital budget for compensation.
After receiving instruction from the finance ministry to use capital budget to compensate, a committee has been formed to administer the handing over of Zangdopelri to the Thromde Administration.
Samdrup Jongkhar Thrompon said they are hoping to complete the process soon.
Thinley Namgay, Samdrup Jongkhar Thrompon said “We have written a letter to him to complete handover process but he did not turn up due to a personal problem. We requested him to come but he did not turn up. So, now we have requested court to help us to complete the procedure.”
The condition of the Zangdopelri has deteriorated as its administration and management was not finalized until the handing over process was complete.
Visitors and residents have raised concerns about its worsening condition, including broken windows, cracked walls, and damaged prayer wheels.
Penjor, a resident said “I have been here for 15 years and the condition of Zangdophelri hasn’t improved a bit. Both private individuals and Thromde are not carrying out maintenance.”
Choki, another resident said “It needs major maintenance as prayer wheels are broken and the structure poses risk.”
The dispute over the Zangdopelri property began in 2015 when the National Land Commission directed Thinley Dorji, the caretaker and coordinator of the temple construction, to surrender the land to the thromde.
Thinley Dorji filed a case against the thromde. After years of legal battles, the court ordered the thromde to compensate Thinley Dorji with more than Nu 27 M for the maintenance and construction expenses he bore. The court also directed Thinley Dorji to hand over the property along with Zangdopelri and two buildings to the Thromde.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
