The High Court, yesterday, upheld the judgment of Wangdue Phodrang District Court where three tshogpas in Gase Tshogongm Gewog were sentenced to three months each in prison for failing to be transparent in issuing the construction works in the gewog, last year.
The lower court sentenced chiwog Tshogpas of Changkha, Khatoedkha and Khamaedna to three months each in prison, in July last year, for failing to inform the public in their chiwogs about the awarding of Gewog gate construction works worth Nu 400,000. The case was filed by an individual from Khamaedna chiwog against the gewog administration at the court knowing that some villagers did not receive the community contract’s information depriving them of participation in the development process.
The lower court, however, acquitted the Gewog Tshogde chairperson and the deputy chairperson along with two other tshogpas upon investigation.
Following the judgment, both the parties appealed to the High Court in August last year.
The parties can again appeal to the higher court if they are not satisfied with the High Court’s judgment within ten working days.
Changa Dorji