ABSTRACT
E-governance is more than just a government website on the Internet.
The strategic objective of e-governance is to support and simplify governance for
all parties; government, citizens and businesses. The use of ICTs can connect all
three parties and support processes and activities. In other words, in e-governance
electronic means support and stimulate good governance. Therefore, the objectives
of e-governance are similar to the objectives of good governance. Good
governance can be seen as an exercise of economic, political, and administrative
authority to better manage affairs of a country at all levels. It is not difficult for
people in developed countries to imagine a situation in which all interaction with
government can be done through one counter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
without waiting in lines. However to achieve this same level of efficiency and
flexibility for developing countries is going to be difficult. The experience in
developed countries shows that this is possible if governments are willing to
decentralize responsibilities and processes, and if they start to use electronic
means. This paper is going to examine the legal and infrastructure issues related
to e-governance from the perspective of developing countries. Particularly it will
examine how far the developing countries have been successful in providing a
legal framework.