Two foresters, who were handed the “Compulsory Retirement Order,” by their parent agency- the agriculture ministry are resentful of it. However, they are not going to appeal against the order to the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC).
The ministry issued an order last Monday relieving the two foresters from the service on compulsory retirement with benefits. This is on the grounds of breaching the Civil Service Code of Conduct under the Bhutan Civil Service Rules and Regulations (BCSR) 2018 by approaching the media and sharing their grievances.
Jigme Choden is one of the two forest rangers asked to compulsorily retire from the service. She said the order was unexpected and felt dejected about it.
“When I appeared on TV and expressed my views, I thought corruption will be curbed and everything will be transparent. I am not even aware of breaching the code of conduct as well,” she added.
But she decided not to appeal against the order although the ministry has stated in the order that she may do so: “the concerned official may appeal against the decision of the Human Resource Committee (HRC) to RCSC within 10 working days from the day of issuance of this order,” the order states.
Her female colleague, who was also given the compulsory retirement order, refused to speak to the media but has no intentions of appealing to the RCSC.
Jigme Choden and her colleague expressed their disappointment over the ministry’s redeployment order to BBS and Kuensel last month.
According to the order issued by the ministry in February, seven foresters, including two of them, were regarded as excess staff following an Organisational Development (OD) exercise. The OD exercise was recommended by the RCSC. The system looks at how civil servants are optimally engaged to eliminate duplication of responsibilities among them.
So, they were asked to be redeployed to other agencies, where they can fully utilise their professional skills.
In line with the order, seven foresters were transferred to other districts with immediate effect. But, Jigme Choden and her colleague claimed the order was unfair and handed to them without any prior notice during the lockdown.
However, the agriculture ministry said it will stand by its decision on the compulsory retirement order of the two foresters.
The ministry reasoned that such administrative action was taken against the pair as they disobeyed the redeployment order and violated the civil service values and conduct.
Meanwhile, the Journalists’ Association of Bhutan (JAB) condemned the order and termed it a gross violation of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression for all Bhutanese.
In its press release, the JAB also slammed the ministry’s compulsory retirement order of the two foresters for speaking to the media as the “Most undemocratic act to have taken place in recent times.”
The JAB also disapproved the notification issued by the ministry on April 5 that reminded civil servants to refrain from speaking to the media in accordance with the BCSR 2018.
It called upon the ministry to reconsider the decision.
Chapter three of the BCSR 2018 stresses Civil Service Values and Conduct.
What does the civil service code of conduct say?
Some of its sub-clauses underline that a civil servant shall refrain from making any statement of fact or opinion to the media (broadcast, print and online) or in any document, which may have adverse effects on the policies or actions of the Royal Government.
Furthermore, a civil servant is not allowed to criticise or undermine policies, programmes and actions of the Royal Government in public and media (broadcast, print and online). They are also not permitted to communicate/transmit/post hate messages or any content with the intent to defame a person or government agencies.
Choni Dema
Edited by Pema Lhaden
