Hon. OL Dorji Wangdi sharing his view while re-deliberating on ACC (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan, 2021.
Channel: Druk Phuensum Tshogpa
Date: 14/12/2021

Re-deliberation on the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2021.

The Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2021 was referred to the National Council on 7th June 2021 after it was adopted from the National Assembly during the 5th Session of the Third Parliament. 

The Member In-Charge of the Bill, Chairperson of the Good Governance Committee, Hon’ble Ugyen Dorji presented the 52 recommendations made by the National Council.

The National Council recommended that the Anti-Corruption Commission have the independence to determine its organizational structure without consultation with the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC). However, the National Assembly did not support the proposal and retained the original provision in which the ACC is required to consult with the RCSC and administer it independently. The House also didn’t support the recommendation from the National Council to amend the clauses related to offenses under the Bill as  “as defined in the Penal Code of Bhutan” and retained the provisions passed by the National Assembly. Further, the House also retained the earlier clause where the Commission may carry out its own prosecution “if delayed without a valid reason” as opposed to the recommendation from the National Council which states, “..only when the case is: (a)  Delayed, returned, withdrawn or not appealed without a valid reason..”

The House deliberated on all the recommendations before endorsing the decision of the House with 37 Yes, 2 No and 1 Abstain out of 40 Members present and voting. 

The recommendations made by the National Council which were not passed by the National Assembly will be deliberated in a Joint Sitting.