Public interest

The recent Supreme Court’s decision on not making the submission of copy of National Identity Card (Rastriya Parichaya Patra) as a mandatory procedure for receiving public services such as pension, security benefits and other facilities could be termed as a great move for honouring the public interest. The stay order given by the highest court in this regard enables the weak, senior citizens and other vulnerable groups of population to receive public services through documents such as citizenship certificate. While the government-intention in making RPP or NIC mandatory could have been inspired by a great idea of digitalizing documents in public services, it could not be implemented because all Nepalis do not have access to NIC. It takes a long time for government to distribute the NIC. Until then, making NIC mandatory would not be practical. Moreover, NIC should not be allowed to minimize the value of citizenship certificate. Any government document which provides profile-information about an individual citizen should be accepted as a valid document in public offices. Those who run government offices and those who provide public services may need some sort of valid certificate about a citizen seeking public services or benefits. That is reasonable and citizens should also follow the procedure and present the required documents. But making the procedure unpractical by demanding unnecessary or specific documents from citizens would be like troubling the people unnecessarily. The same also goes against the spirit of public service. Those who need public services should be able to get them as per their need without any hurdle from the administrators’ side. Delivery of public services, they say, should be undertaken with high regard for dignity and respect for citizens. The procedure in this regard should be simplified, comfortable and quick in the best interest of the people particularly those who are in vulnerable situation. Duplication and unnecessary procedures should be avoided for making delivery of services smooth and in the best interest of common citizens. Administrators could learn valuable lessons from the latest SC decision. The lesson, if followed with a sense of open positive mindset, would in course of time guide them to make delivery of public services dynamic and fast.