National Assembly re-deliberates and passes the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2019
Posted on :27 February 2020
The Chairperson of the Legislative Committee, Member from Bongo-Chapchha Constituency presented the Committee’s recommendations on the repeal Sections proposed by the National Council.
Some of the Members were of the opinion that repealing the sections from the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2019 based on the justification that, it is provided for in other Acts was not the right move. However, other Members expressed that repealing those sections could lead to more clarity of laws for the law practitioners and avoid duplication.
After an in depth deliberation on the recommendations, the House endorsed 24 of 56 amendments recommended by the National Council. The National Council’s recommendations of amendment on the sections related to Crime against public election, Value based sentencing, Child in conflict with law, Rape, Grading of Rape and related offences, Unnatural sex, Grading of Unnatural Sex, Grading of burglary, Market Abuse, Grading of Market Abuse, Serious Organized Crime, Grading of Serious Organized Crime, Clandestine foreign investment, Grading of Clandestine foreign investment, Fronting, Grading of Fronting, Entrapment and Grading of an illegal document did not get the support of the House.
The National Assembly of Bhutan passed the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2019 with reservations with 34 Yes, 1 No and 7 Abstain out of 42 Members present and voting. The disagreement clauses will be referred to the Joint Committee formed between two Houses of Parliament and submitted to the Druk Gyalpo, who shall then command the Houses to deliberate and vote on the Bill in a Joint Sitting.
