Thimphu police is investigating a defamation case filed by the agriculture secretary Rinzin Dorji against a former employee of the agriculture ministry earlier this month.

Rinzin Dorji filed the case with the police as a private citizen and not in his official capacity.

One of the charges is related to a social media post by the individual alleging the secretary’s involvement in appointment of the district livestock officer of Haa.

The post on Facebook group Bhutanese news & Forums, made through a personal account  claimed that the DLO who is also from Haa was not eligible for such transfer.

Kuensel learnt that the livestock official had been an instructor at the rural development centre in Zhemgang and had requested for a transfer to his home dzongkhag citing reasons including health issues. He was also nearing superannuation.

While the DLO was not a university graduate and Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) selected candidate, the transfer was approved by the human resource committee (HRC) of the ministry and then endorsed by the RCSC.

Agriculture minister Yeshey Penjor said that his preliminary investigation found that the allegations made on the social media post would not be true.

“I was told the secretary was not present at the HRC meeting when it decided the transfer request,” the minister said.

The post has been removed from the forum as of yesterday evening.

Staff Reporter

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