November 28: The cabinet has passed the final decision on the controversial appointment of Bhutan Post’s Chief Executive Officer. The appointment came under scrutiny after one of the unselected candidates said the selection procedure was flawed.

The 21st session of Lhengey Zhungtshog held on Tuesday reviewed the case.

A news release from the Cabinet Secretariat says the Selection Committee had not abided by the announced selection criteria. None of the applicants had met the announced selection criteria.

It said in such a case the position should have been re-advertised but this was not done.

Therefore, the Cabinet has decided that the current Board of Directors of the Corporation would be replaced. The news release from the Cabinet Secretariat says the Selection Committee members will be severely reprimanded.

The Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications Phala Dorji will be also changed since he is the Ex-Officio Chairman of the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

Meanwhile, the selected applicant has been found to be at no fault. It was found that the Chairman has ambiguously presented the decision of the Board to the Information and Communications Minister without making it clear as to whom they recommended. Following this, the minister approved the appointment.

The Cabinet said the selected candidate, the former Deputy Secretary of the Information and Communications Ministry, Tseten Gyeltshen, had also resigned from the Civil Service before he competed for the post.

The news release says the Cabinet did not find it appropriate to reconsider the appointment. However, the newly appointed CEO will be placed under probation.