RTI in Nepal
For the first time, 1990 Constitution guaranteed right to information as a fundamental right to its citizen. It recognized right of citizens to demand and obtain information held by public agencies on any matter of public importance. Despite the constitutional guarantee, it took a long time to persuade the government to enact law on right to information.
In 1993, then government tabled first draft of Right to Information Act in the parliament. However, the draft was rejected by the parliamentary committee following the opposition of the stakeholders including media. Civil society argued that the draft was aiming to create a formal secrecy regime instead of giving effect to the constitutional guarantee.
Nepal government formed a taskforce on September, 2007 to draft a bill on right to information. Based on that draft, the government enacted a specific law to regulate right to information on July 18, 2007. This law is an outcome of enormous effort by the stakeholders and civil society.
Right to Information Act, 2007 has provided for an independent National Information Commission for the protection, promotion and execution of Right to Information in Nepal. It was established on June 14, 2008. Further, Regulation on Right to Information was ratified and came to effect on Feb 9, 2009.
Here are two links reporting on the Nepal SC decision on disclosure of answer scripts under RTI, 2007:
http://archives.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=
