Parops want to know their (legal) rights
In response, Paro District Court officials have been conducting a series of talks at the dzongkhag’s 10 gewog centres and in Paro town since January 20.
The first talk, on sources of laws, constitutional and procedural rights, matrimonial issues, and the Penal Code, which was held in Shaba, had an overwhelming response with at least two members from each family participating, said Shaba gup, Rinchen. “People don’t understand the difference between a civil and a criminal offense,” said Rinchen. “Now they are more clear on what cases should go to court.”
Court officials expect the number of cases reaching court to decrease after people have a better understanding of the law.
After Thimphu, Paro with 902 cases had the highest number of registered cases in the country last year. A majority were related to matrimonial and land issues.
Naja gup, Kado, said that the court could expect to see a decrease in cases by about 60 percent. “People don’t understand law and go to the court for everything, which is why the number of cases are so high,” he said. The people were also sensitised on various forms of harassment that women face and informed that such harassment is a violation of their rights.
“This initiative of the Dzongkhag Tshogdu (dzongkhag development committee) and the Paro district court is expected to be emulated by other dzongkhags in bridging and bringing laws nearer to the people of remote villages,” said Paro drangpon Lungten Dubgyur.
Besides Shaba, court officials have so far met and sensitised the people of Naja, Dogar and Hungrel gewogs. Today, they are meeting the people of Paro tshongdu. The awareness campaign will close by the end of month.
The judiciary had initiated legal awareness campaign from 2001 spearheaded by the then Chief Justice Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye under the theme “Know Your Laws to protect Your Rights”. In 2004 and 2005, district court judges visited schools across the country and conducted such awareness amongst the students and teachers.
