Right To Information For Better Governance

Right to information (RTI) holds a lot of importance when it comes to maintaining transparency and establishing good governance. Democracy fosters only on good governance whose main pillars include transparency, rule of law, responsiveness, accountability, participation, consensual decisions, equity and effectiveness, among others. As RTI is a crucial tool for promoting good governance, the former is often regarded as a synonym for democracy. There is no doubt that the RTI is a major instrument of promoting human rights and enhancing citizens’ sovereignty. Many nations around the world have formulated laws related to RTI in order to ensure corruption-free administration. Nepal, too, has implemented the RTI Act, 2064 BS (2007) and the RTI Rules, 2009. As per the provision of the RTI Act, the National Information Commission (NIC) was established in 2008 to implement the Act. The independent body is responsible for the protection, promotion and practice of RTI in the country.