Dharamshala: On February 4, 2026, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) held a formal congratulation ceremony to appoint and welcome Mr. Thinley Chomphel as the new Acting Secretary. The ceremony took place at 10:00 AM within the Audit Office premises.
The event was presided over by Auditor General Mr. Tashi Topgyal and attended by Joint Secretary Mr. Kunchok Wangdue, along with 13 staff members of the OAG.
Introduction and Career Profile
The proceedings began with an address by Joint Secretary Mr. Kunchok Wangdue, who introduced the new Acting Secretary by highlighting his inspiring career trajectory.
Mr. Wangdue detailed Mr. Chomphel’s dedication to public service, noting that he began his career as an accountant at TCV. Mr. Chomphel subsequently joined the OAG as a contract staff member before becoming a regular staff member at the rank of Office Superintendent. Through diligence and competence, he cleared the requisite examinations to become Joint Secretary, later serving as Additional Secretary, and finally assuming the role of Acting Secretary effective today.
Address by the Acting Secretary
Following his introduction, Mr. Thinley Chomphel addressed the gathering. Having served under four different Auditor Generals, he shared key insights regarding the foundational principles of auditing within the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
Mr. Chomphel emphasized the strict hierarchy of legal frameworks that auditors must respect:
- Host Country Laws
- The Charter of the CTA
- Rules and Regulations of individual units
He cautioned that altering this order invalidates the regulations. Drawing a comparison between his experiences outside and inside the CTA, he noted that while implementing rules outside often leads to clashes with authority, within the CTA, the “Rule of Law” is paramount, and higher authorities consistently respect established regulations.
He concluded his speech by recalling the wisdom of a former Auditor General, who drew a parallel between the auditing profession and Buddhist concepts. Mr. Chomphel shared that he always keeps in mind the former AG’s view that auditing is similar to the Buddhist practice of helping without expectation of return. He reiterated that an auditor has nothing to gain personally from the process; rather, the primary goal is to help and guide the institution.
Keynote Address by the Auditor General
Auditor General Mr. Tashi Topgyal expressed his satisfaction in appointing a competent Secretary who has risen through the ranks and possesses a holistic understanding of the OAG’s working mechanisms.
Taking advantage of the gathering, the Auditor General provided strategic guidance to the staff:
- The “Helping” Mindset: He urged auditors to approach their work with the intention of helping the unit improve, rather than seeking to “crush” accountants with excessive audit points. He noted that when an auditor possesses a genuine intent to guide, material comforts—such as accommodation or food provided by the unit—become irrelevant, allowing the auditor to perform their duties honestly.
- The “Doctor” Analogy: Mr. Topgyal compared a good auditor to a good doctor. Just as a doctor accurately checks a patient’s pulse to diagnose an illness, an auditor must read the balance sheet and understand the organization’s internal check and control systems before vouching. This allows for a “surgical,” targeted approach that saves time.
- Report Writing: He advised staff to draft reports during the observation phase when knowledge is fresh, rather than treating report writing as a separate, burdensome chapter after the audit is complete. This method ensures accuracy and reduces the workload on the Joint Secretary during the review process.
The formal proceedings concluded with the serving of traditional Droma Desi (sweet rice). Mr. Thinley Chomphel was then escorted to the Secretary’s office, where he was offered a white scarf (Khatak) and a white envelope by the Auditor General. This was followed by the offering of scarves by the Joint Secretary and all OAG staff members, signifying their respect and support for his new leadership.
