Nepal

The government has halted the classification of state information due to widespread public protest.

The Information Classification Committee under the Chief Secretary had classified government information into 87 points, keeping some information related to policy matters under wraps.

The Information Classification Committee, formed under the chief secretary, had classified government data into 87 categories, keeping some information related to policy decisions as under wraps.

Chief Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi discussed the matter with various stakeholders on Monday. 

According to the Prime Minister's Secretariat, government and communications sector representatives have decided to halt the current information classification and arrange a new classification in collaboration with the concerned parties.

During the discussion, stakeholders said that information classification should not breach Nepal's Constitution or current laws governing the right to information. They expressed belief that the dissemination of real information would only strengthen the political system and democracy.

Bipul Pokharel, president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, urged the government to retract the classification plan. Calling for a fresh discussion on the matter, he said the right to information has been established to empower the people in a democratic system.

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