Members of the National Assembly spoke with one voice on the need to fix accountability regarding who is responsible for solving election disputes.
Members said while the Election Commission and the judiciary pushed the responsibility on each other, it was the people, who suffered ultimately.
Parliamentarians blamed the Election commission and the judiciary for the confusion. They said both the institutions are accountable.
Rinchen Dorji, the Drakteng-Langthel MP, said “those who came from faraway places like Sarpang and Samdrup Jongkhar to seek justice had to waste a lot of time and money. And it caused problems, when geogs were left without gups for a long time”.
Ugyen Wangdi, the Drametsi-Ngatshang MP, said “they should investigate the cases and if there are any mistakes, penalties or administrative action must be taken.”
After extensive deliberations, the speaker said the discussion today should remind the election commission and the judiciary of their roles and responsibilities.
Jigme Tshultim, the national assembly speaker, said “if the institutions are not accountable, the Parliament has ways and means to intervene in accordance with the constitution.”
The speaker said criticism is part of democracy and it is very important to be accountable.
