KP Sharma

During the question-and-answer session in the National Assembly yesterday, Dewathang-Gomdar MP Ugyen Dorji raised concerns about the inconvenience faced by commuters due to the Check Post Management System (CPMS). 

CPMS, first introduced during the pandemic to monitor the outbreak, tracks the movement of vehicles and people through the formal point of entry and exits at checkposts.

MP Ugyen Dorji argued that CPMS continues to be in operation in bordering towns although the pandemic is no longer a global health emergency. He reasoned that such an unfair and inconsistent system within the country has caused significant inconvenience for commuters.

Citing the constitutional rights enshrined in the Constitution, the MP said that such restriction contradicts the rights granted by the state. He alleged that such a decision actually requires the parliament’s approval for implementation.

However, the MP acknowledged the provision of reasonable restriction granted to the state in Article 7 (22), the fundamental rights.

Ugyen Dorji pointed out that while the system helps track criminals and facilitate audits, it requires the verification of original citizenship identity cards which consumes a huge amount of time.

He further highlighted the risk of intruding into someone’s privacy and misuse of personal data for unintended purposes.

The Minister for Home Affairs Ugyen Dorji said that the CPMS is implemented at various checkposts manned by the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) solely for security reasons.

He clarified that it helps the authorities and people in multiple ways and does not intend to impose restrictions on people from entering or exiting the country.

As per the minister’s response, the implementation of the system has helped in tracking down 35 cases of illegal entry, 354 cases of illegal exits, and 25 road accidents along the Indian highways.

Further, with the help of CPMS, the Royal Audit Authority (RAA) could trace Nu 8.8 M in daily subsistence allowance and mileage since 2020 in a false claim by the civil servants.

The minister acknowledged the system-related issues owing to technical glitches and challenges faced by the illiterates while registering in the system.

He assured that once the system undergoes up-gradation, it will be more user-friendly and convenient. 

RBP and the Department of Information Technology and Telecom instituted the system in September 2020.