Role and Performance of NIC in RTI Implementation in Nepal - Pathak (2015)

Role and Performance of NIC in RTI Implementation in Nepal

Yek Raj Pathak

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Abstract:

National Information Commission (NIC) – a judicial body provisioned by the Right to Information Act, 2007 – is mandated to play active role for the effectively implementation of Right to Information (RTI) laws in Nepal. Internationally, the function of Information Commission is somehow similar to promote information seeking activities, to protect the people's right and establish the information culture in the nation. It has a judicial right to punish the public agencies refusing to provide information to the requesters in line with the Act. It also acts as a campaigner in leveraging the demand and supply-side to demand and flow of information. Nepal has made some success stories with the NIC's proactive role and the cases have been established as precedents in the emergence and evolution of RTI regime in Nepal. The RTI Act in Nepal came as a result of democratic movement and more than a decade-long struggle by journalists and civil society activists. But the mere formation of the Act and the establishment of NIC are not enough for the effective implementation of the Act. The bureaucracy, which has been accustomed to work in an environment of secrecy for centuries, should make information-friendly mechanism and change working ambience to propel information culture in Nepal. Although the NIC has a vital role to that end, it has been more or less confined within the capital and is not proactively performing its role to promote information-culture.

Keywords: Right to Information, NIC, implementation, people's rights, public agencies.

Citations

APA (6th edition): 

Pathak, Y. R. (2015, July). Role and Performance of NIC in RTI Implementation in Nepal. KCC Media Journal, I(1), 23-29.

MLA (7th edition): 

Pathak, Yek Raj. "Role and Performance of NIC in RTI Implementation in Nepal". KCC Media Journal I:1. (2015): 23-29.

First Page of the article

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For the full article and/or comments, please contact:

Abhas D Rajopadhyaya

Assistant Editor, KCC Media Journal

abhas@kcc.edu.np

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Kantipur City College

Putalisadak, Kathmandu.