KATHMANDU: National Information Commission (NIC) today wrote to Office of the Controller of Examinations (OCE), Tribhuvan University, to be present at the former's office for its failure to abide by the order of NIC. The Commission on August 25, 2009 had issued a directive to OCE citing that it was the examinees' rights to see their answer sheets in case of dissatisfaction with the score obtained.

NIC had given a one-week ultimatum to OCE to show up with rationale behind the failure to abide by the order. It had also informed the OCE in writing on October 26, 2009. Four students in their BBS second year studying at Shankardev Campus on the same day had filed an application to OCE seeking re-check of the answer sheets of English first year and Account second year exams, reasoning that they were not satisfied with the score.

Denying the applicants their right to know as per the directives of NIC, OCE said that it was not obliged to literally abide by the dictate of NIC.

Ganesh Bahadur Thapa, one of the applicants warned of knocking the door of Supreme Court if OEC persisted on paying no heed to the directives of NIC.

The disgruntled students have lodged complaint at OCE seeking the safety of their answer sheets as the OCE destroyed the answer sheets six months after publication of results.

Daya Man Karmacharya, Controller of Exam, claimed that the decision of NIC was of no use and was not practical to the present context. "We won't abide by the NIC directives. We're annoyed by the decision and will move the Supreme Court".

Binaya Kasaju, chief commissioner, NIC argued that OCE was making a mockery of people's rights to know. "SC will simply rebuff the writ filed by OCE for making a bid to curtail fundamental rights," he said.