Information Commission wants ‘secrecy’ removed from officials’ oath of office

Kathmandu, February 2

He National Information Commission has recommended that the government remove the word ‘secret’ from the oath of office for all state officials.

In its annual report for the 2021/22 fiscal year submitted to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday, the commission says making public office holders pledge secrecy cannot be appropriate in the age of democracy.

Information Commissioner Ratna Prasad Mainali says that talking about an open and transparent society and promising to keep things secret is contradictory, so the recommendation has been made.

Mainali says that the oath of secrecy has jeopardized people’s right to information, so the word needs to be removed from the oath to strengthen democracy.

The prime minister apparently did not comment on the recommendation.