Gyalpoizhing Land Allotment Committee Members in Mongar Court

Some of the Land Allotment Committee members yesterday submitted their opening statement to the Mongar District Court, in connection with the 75 land allotments in the Gyalpoizhing case.

Former Mongar Dzongrab, Tappo, a Land Allotment Committee member, was the first to submit his opening statement, followed by Tashi Norbu Sherpa, and CL Das, who were all charged for official misconduct.

Presenting his statement, former Dzongrab Tappo, said that, during the meeting in 2005, the Committee Members had raised the issue of eligibility in the case of the two Dratshangs, Drametse in Mongar and Lhodra Kharchu in Bumthang. But the Chairman had decided to allot, and thus the responsibility lay with the Chairman.

He also said that the Chairman welcomed the Committee Members, and accordingly verbally informed the members that he had received the order, command or application for the requirement of a plot, and thus decided to allot the land.

The allotment of 26 commercial and 41 residential plots was also done in accordance with the advice of the Chairman, and in keeping with the Government orders, received through the then Zonal Administrator.

Tashi Norbu Sherpa, who was also a Land Allotment Committee member, said that he did attend the meeting in 2005, which was chaired by Minjur Dorji, the then Dzongda of Mongar.

“I did raise my concern on whether the Dzongkhag Committee had the authority to allot land to religious institutions during the meeting, and the Chairman clarified to the Committee, stating that the land allotments are being done to the public institutions, which do not have complete support from the Royal Government of Bhutan, and also to help sustain these institutions in long run. Some Committee Members also supported the decision to allot,” he said.

He also said that the land allotment had been done during the time, when there was a different system of government, and he was not in a position to go against, as that was a policy matter, which could be handled only by the policy maker and not by a humble civil servant like him.

“The decisions taken by Committee on above matters were not convenient, because of which I refrained from signing the minutes of the meeting, which clearly indicates my disagreement and lack of support,” he said.

A former Assistant Engineer, CL Das, said he was not the District Engineer, but he did attend the Municipal Meeting on behalf of the Dzongkhag Engineer as he was unable to make it for the meeting. During the meeting, he did raise concerns about the authority of the Committee to allot land to religious institutions, but the Chairman said that these are not individuals but religious institutions and hence can be given.

“Dzongda knows best the Government rules and regulations. These rules and regulation sometimes don’t reach to the lower level staff like us,” he said.

“Those days, most decisions on such meetings was from the Chairman. The Committee would just be receiving instructions, rather than making decisions.”

The Mongar District Court between November 13 and November 14 registered 75 cases related to the Gyalpoizhing land allotment.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission will today, submit their rebuttal statement to the court.

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From KUENSEL

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