Twenty-one participants comprising of judges, registrars, and court officials have started the first leadership programme for judiciary yesterday at the Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies (RIGSS) in Phuentsholing. 

For the next 10 days they will train in mindfulness and emotional intelligence, Bhutan’s foreign policy, and economic issues. The participants will also acquire valuable skills and insights, awareness on national issues, country’s aspirations and challenges in building a harmonious and just society.

This judiciary leadership program is RIGSS’ ninth course. The 10 days programme was launched on November 18.

RIGSS director Chewang Rinzin said the leadership course has been launched in keeping with how the people’s lives are impacted directly with the decisions made by judges and other court officials. 

“It is crucial for them to work as a judge in the most efficient, fair, and objective manner,” he said. “Dispensing of justice in the most fair and transparent is fundamental to unity and peace in society.” 

Chief Justice Tshering Wangchuk launched the programme. In his address to the participants, he said Bhutan has witnessed immense, rapid, and fundamental change in the last decade. 

“We must be proactive and initiate timely measures,” he said.  

“Judicial independence, integrity, wisdom, competence, and right attitude are crucial for the sustenance of rule of law.” 

Chief Justice said that human resource development has been one of the major aspirations of the judiciary. 

He said that judiciary today must be in pace with the rapidly changing needs of the society, and that good governance is impossible without a judiciary people can trust. 

Meanwhile, RIGSS has turned five years this October. With this leadership course, it has conducted 39 courses so far, and 959 participants have graduated in different leadership trainings. 

The second judiciary programme would start in December 5. By the end this year, RIGSS would have trained more than 1,000 individuals from diverse professional backgrounds. 

Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

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