TSJC: Postponing 10th session of Tibetan parliament unlawful
DHARAMSALA, 24 Aug: The Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission(TSJC) has issued a notice to the Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile(TPIE) terming the postponement of the 16th TPIE’s September session unlawful.
Though Tibet Express couldn’t get access to the details of the notice that the exile Tibetans’ apex court has served to the TPIE, Article 40 of the Charter of Tibetans in exile states that “a time period of six months shall not pass between the last session and the date appointed for the next session.”
Earlier on 17 Aug, Speaker Pema Jungney flanked by Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok and Secretary-General Tsewang Ngodup on both sides announced that “the 10th session of the 16th TPIE scheduled to be held for 8 days from 16-24 September 2020 has been postponed until March 2021.”
The supreme legislative body of the exiled Tibetans stated the decision was “taken at the 327th Standing Committee meeting on 13 August 2020, in accordance with the Article 6 and clause 2 of Article 49 of the Charter of Tibetans in exile.”
Article 6 of the Charter of Tibetans in exile deals with the Recognition of International and Local Laws while clause 2 of Article 49-Quorum of the Tibetan Parliament has vested the Speaker with the power to adjourn the house session by more than a week in the absence of the minimum quorum required.
While both the TPIE and the TSJC declined to comment over the matter, the two pillars of the Tibetan democracy last colluded over the appointment of a new Kalon during the seventh session of the 16th TPIE.
Speaker Pema Jungney then responded by pointing to Article 46 and 58 of the Charter which states that the Commission has no jurisdiction over any member of parliament with regard to his or her exercise of powers granted under the Charter and that the commission cannot inquire into the question whether the parliament had complied with its own rules and regulations in its functioning or finalization of decisions.
