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Opposition leader Tshering Tobgay said that there was a need to categorise the type of questions NC sought to ask cabinet ministers to avoid the present confusion. He also said that the NC Act should be reviewed together by the council, the ruling party and the opposition to make it clear whether cabinet ministers need to show up during NC’s question hour.

On July 4, the National Council adjourned its session after the home minister, Lyonpo Minjur Dorji, did not show up to answer queries from NC members, sparking off a misunderstanding between the two houses of parliament.

Prime Minister Lyonchhoen Jigme Y Thinley, in a clarification presented to the National Assembly, said that ministers did not attend the NC question hour, as the NC Act firstly did not permit it. Moreover, the role of NC was to review bills, take care of the country’s security and look at the welfare of the people, but not to intervene and mix up with legislative functions.

Lyonchhoen said the cabinet decided last year that they would not attend the NC question hour, as it could set a precedent for future governments.

“The cabinet ministers submit answers in writing to whatever is asked by NC, which we feel has more weightage than verbal answers,” said the Lyonchhoen.

On the NC wanting to ask questions on behalf of the people, the prime minister said that those questions would be nothing new as the same questions will have been put to MPs by the people of their respective constituencies.

He also informed that house that a minister, who attended the NC question hour, had no authority to decide on any issue, as it had to be decided together by the cabinet.

“We have to discuss with each other and, to do that, I can go to NC and, at the same time, NC chairperson can come and discuss with me any time,” said the prime minister.

The NC chairperson, Namgay Penjor, told Kuensel that the presence of the cabinet ministers was required during question hour because it is contained in the NC Act. He said that he had to stop Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba attending question hour on the following day, as the NC session was already adjourned.