June 4: The National Assembly yesterday established 14 committees. The committees will have a maximum of five members.

The 14 committees established by the National Assembly are the Public Accounts Committee, Legislative Committee, Culture Committee, Foreign Relations Committee, Human Rights Committee, Labour and Human Resources Committee, Women and Children Committee, Private Sector Development Committee, Poverty Reduction Committee, Environment Committee, Youth and Sports Committee, Media and ICT Committee, Education Development Committee and Ethics and Credentials Committee.

The Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley said it is important to have a proper check and balance among the three arms of the government. He said it is important for the parliamentarians to know the policy of the other two arms of the government and also if they are working as per the rules and regulations. For that it is important to form committees.

The committees will have a maximum of five members from among the National Assembly members. However the cabinet ministers and the opposition leader are excluded from membership.

The Speaker Tshogpoen Jigme Tshultim said the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the Committees can be discussed and decided by the members of the committees themselves. He asked the members to submit the names of the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson within a day or two.

The National Assembly session will resume on June 15 after a 12 days break.