Suppose police personnel fail to obey unlawful written and verbal orders of the superiors, it won’t be considered a service offence anymore. During the third reading of the Royal Bhutan Police Amendment Bill 2021 today, the National Assembly unanimously agreed that disobeying only lawful orders of the superiors would be considered an offence. Failing to obey such orders, written or verbal were considered a service offence in accordance with the Royal Bhutan Police Act 2009.
According to the Member of Parliament of Chhoekor_Tang constituency in Bumthang, sometimes when police personnel fail to obey private orders, the officers then hold grudge against them which affect their promotion later.
Likewise, the MP of Gangzur Minjey constituency in Lhuentse, Kinga Penjor, said it will particularly put the person taking orders in a problem if the order is related to corruption.
“If the case reaches the court, you cannot justify saying that it was an order from your superior. If we don’t mention ‘lawful orders’, it will not be a problem to the one giving orders but will be a problem to the one taking orders,” he added.
Sonam Tenzin/Sangay Chezom
Edited by Chayku
