Re-deliberating the Civil Liability Bill, the National Council today agreed to only 69 of the 170 amendments returned to the House by the National Assembly. The House will now submit it as a disputed Bill to His Majesty The King for Assent to convene a Joint Sitting.
The disputed amendments are mostly inconsistencies in legal terminologies between the two houses including Chapter 9 of the Bill. The Chapter is about compensating victims in case of death or injury due to a wrongful act or negligence among others.
The National Assembly had removed the Chapter but the National Council recommended reinstating it. The National Council sees the Chapter as the essence of the Bill.
“The primary rationale of the Civil Liability Bill is to stop death, injury and losses due to negligence and wrongful act; enhance compensation and fix accountability in such incidents. That’s why the Remedy chapter of the Bill is an indispensable part of it. So, the Legislative Committee is recommending restoring the chapter,” said Dhan Kumar Sunwar, the Chairperson of the Legislative Committee.
According to the Constitution, where the House in which the Bill originated refuses to incorporate such amendments or objections of the other House, it shall submit the Bill to the Druk Gyalpo who shall then command the House to deliberate and vote on the Bill in a joint sitting.
The Bill was deliberated and adopted by the National Council during the last session where it was submitted as a Private Member’s Bill. A Private Member’s Bill is a legislative bill introduced by any member of the parliament other than a minister.
Kipchu
Edited by Sonam Pem
