State machinery should not hesitate to provide information: Chief Information Commissioner

Dhangadhi: Chief Information Commissioner of the National Information Commission, Dr. Suresh Prasad Acharya, has emphasized that state machinery should not be afraid to uphold citizens' right to information.

Speaking at a provincial-level interaction organized by the Commission in Dhangadhi on Tuesday, Dr. Acharya stated that the effective dissemination of information contributes to the prosperity and good governance of the country. "No one should be negligent in providing information that is legally permitted under the Right to Information law. The state machinery must take this responsibility seriously," he asserted.

Sudurpaschim Province’s Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, Hira Sarki, highlighted the significance of the Right to Information for the working-class community. He stressed the need to streamline the information dissemination process and stated that "those who work with integrity should not fear sharing information."

Commission Secretary Dirgharaj Mainali outlined the Commission’s efforts in implementing the Right to Information, while Bikas Koirala, Secretary at the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of Sudurpaschim Province, discussed policy measures being undertaken by the provincial government for the effective implementation of the law.

Additionally, Kailali Chief District Officer Gogan Bahadur Hamal, Commission Commissioner Gagan Bista, and Federation of Nepali Journalists’ Province President Bharat Shah stressed the importance of ensuring easy public access to information.

As per Article 27 of the Constitution of Nepal, every citizen has the right to seek information on matters of public concern. The Right to Information Act 2064 and Regulations 2065 have been enacted to safeguard this right. However, according to the Commission, 81 complaints were filed in Sudurpaschim Province last year due to failure to access information, with most cases linked to the municipal level.