Kathmandu, February 2
The National Information Commission has recommended that government remove the word ‘secrecy’ from the oath of office of all state officials.
In its annual report for the fiscal year 2021/22 submitted to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday, the commission says making the public office holders vow to keep secrecy cannot be appropriate in the age of democracy.
Information Commissioner Ratna Prasad Mainali says talking about an open and transparent society and vowing to keep things secret contradicted, hence the recommendation has been made.
Mainali says the oath of secrecy has jeopardised people’s right to information, hence removing the word from the oath is necessary to strengthen democracy.
The prime minister apparently did not make any comment about the recommendation.
