The Ruling and Opposition remain clearly divided on commissioners and constitutional offices’ members’ non-resignation from the civil service to take up constitutional offices.
Even though the National Assembly endorsed Entitlement and Service Conditions Amendment Bill, the Opposition member- all 15 of them- voted against the bill.
“The decision is a mistake,” said, Bartsham-Shongphu MP, Wangdi Norbu. He said the decision would be a breeding ground for conflict of interest. If they are bounded by the civil service rules, he said, they would directly be answerable to the government of the day and not their mandate.
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A few of the members also said the government is amending the bill for the interest of a few individuals.
Some of the members from the ruling party said that the bill was passed keeping the larger interest in mind.
The Finance Minister, Namgay Dorji said if the opposition feels the move is unconstitutional, they should take the government to the court instead of raising the issue time and again in the parliament.
The main amendment clause of the bill states members and commissioners of the constitutional offices need not resign from civil service upon their appointment.
The previous clause said members and commissioners said a person appointed as the holder; member and commissioner of a constitutional office shall resign from his/her previous office with post service benefits.
