What parliament achieved
The seventh session of the first parliament ended Friday. This time, leaders have better debates compared to past and worked little more on drafting and adopting laws. Many crucial issues have been looked into and bitter relations between the two houses have been normalised. Both the houses were ready to look into possibilities of state funding for the political parties. The issue will get heated in the next session.
This time too, the National Council remained powerless on its say on budget. Few months back in a verdict, the country’s judiciary had outlined the importance of National Council’s involvement in passing national budget. National Assembly simply ignored it. All voices from the upper houses were rejected when the lower house passed the budget. One of the commentator on Bhutan Times forum rightly said, National Council is toothless tiger.
Unlike earlier versions of the concluding session, this time the speaker gave his lengthy speech, attended by king, royal family members, senior government officials and representatives of international organisations. The report by Public Account committee outlined the increasing financial irregularities.
The parliament endorsed bills on penal code, civil and criminal procedure code, financial services, anti corruption, childcare and protection, water and legislative procedure. The two houses were loggerheads last time over these. The parliament also ratified the SAARC convention on environment and anti doping in sports. Bhutan Institute of Medical Sciences Bill has reached National Council. Bills of adoption, sales tax, customs and excise, election and public finance have been sent to palace for ascent.
King has given ascent to Civil Service Act of Bhutan 2010, Civil and Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act of Bhutan 2011, Penal Code (Amendment) Act of Bhutan 2011, Anti-Corruption Act of Bhutan 2011, Financial Services Act of Bhutan 2011, Child Care and Protection Act of Bhutan 2011 and Water Act of Bhutan 2011.