TSJC sends summons to MP Lobsang Choejor
DHARAMSALA, 29 Sept: The Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission(TSJC) has issued summons to Tibetan parliamentarian Lobsang Choejor on Tuesday.
The Tibetan MP was summoned by the TSJC over his article that criticised the apex court over its ruling that declared the Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile’s(TPIE) decision to postpone the 16th TPIE’s September session a deliberate act of ignoring the mandate of the Charter of Tibetans in Exile.
The notice stated that the Tibetan MP was summoned as per the Civil Procedure Article 84 (b) to explain as to why he was not making a mockery of the court.
As per the summons, he has to appear before the TSJC on 12 Dec 2020 at 2:30 PM.
On 17 Aug, Pema Jungney, the speaker of the TPIE 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.”
However, on 24 Aug, the TSJC issued a notice to the Standing Committee of the TPIE terming the postponement of the 16th TPIE’s September session unlawful.
Responding to the TSJC’s notice, the Standing Committee of the TPIE has sent a four-page explanation to the court stating that the committee has not done anything unlawful, the court stated in its ruling.
On 25th Sept, the TSJC declared in its ruling that the 11 members of the standing committee of the TPIE have disregarded the Charter of Tibetans in Exile as they failed to hold the parliamentary session as it found the reasons for postponing the 10th session of the parliament insufficient.
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.”
As such the TSJC has withheld the voting rights of the members of the Parliament’s standing committee of the TPIE until 21 March 2021.
The TSJC’s order was rejected by the TPIE on the same day. The Statement issued by the parliament declared it unconstitutional and that the TSJC has no jurisdiction over the house.
