WÒRDS FÒR YÒU

In a recent report, it has been revealed that the civil service sector has witnessed a substantial departure of over 3,000 employees. This includes approximately 1,500 individuals on contract, shedding light on the challenges faced by the government in retaining skilled personnel. The data indicates that voluntary resignations accounted for nearly 3,500 employees, while 600 contract workers left upon completing their terms and 500 employees departed due to agency delinking. Additionally, around 230 individuals left the service upon reaching their superannuation. The report further highlights that the professional and management categories experienced the highest number of civil servants leaving their positions. In contrast, executive and specialist positions recorded the lowest attrition rate. This trend raises concerns about the retention of experienced professionals within the public sector. Recognizing the urgency of addressing this attrition rate, various measures have ...

On August 7, In a landmark verdict, the High Court has upheld the judgment of the Pemagatshel Dzongkhag Court, sentencing Officer Commanding Jamyang Dorji to six months in prison for the sexual harassment of a female police constable. The court also ruled that the officer has the option to pay a thrimthue (compensation) of Nu 22,500 in lieu of serving the imprisonment term. However, despite the ruling, the case remains unresolved as the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) holds the authority to finalize it if the Officer Commanding (OC) decides to appeal to the Supreme Court. Throughout the trial, the OC maintained his innocence, claiming that the police investigation and chargesheet were not carried out appropriately. He argued that the messages exchanged between him and the victim were based on mutual consensus, further challenging the authenticity of the evidence presented. In a significant development, the court denied the oral evidence of 12 witnesses, questioning the credibilit...

In a significant development, the Judiciary of Bhutan has taken action against two justices, Pema Rinzin and Tshering Dorji, from Bench I of the High Court. The justices have been suspended for their involvement in a deliberate miscarriage of justice in a case related to drug smuggling and possession. The case, which dates back to 2019, involved two defendants, one of whom was the son of a renowned Kuensel Reporter. They were prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for drug smuggling and possession. The defendants were accused of being in possession of Spasmo Proxyvon Plus (SP+), a controlled substance. Initially, the Thimphu Dzongkhag Court convicted both defendants and handed down a five-year sentence for each of them. However, the defendants appealed to the High Court, seeking a reversal of the judgment. To the shock of many, Bench I of the High Court completely overturned the Thimphu Dzongkhag Court's ruling, leading to widespread concern and criticism. The decis...