Kathmandu [Nepal], June 11 (ANI): The Kathmandu District Court has issued an interim order directing two prominent online news portals—Bizmandu and Nepal Khabar—to delete articles allegedly defaming the Chair of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), Santosh Narayan Shrestha. The ruling has sparked concerns over press freedom and censorship in the Himalayan nation.
The order, delivered by Judge Pitambar Sharma on Tuesday, instructs the portals to immediately take down the stories that Shrestha claims caused significant damage to his dignity and reputation. The court stated, “News articles under various headlines have harmed the petitioner’s dignity and reputation, and the publication of such defamatory content has caused irreparable damage.” It also directed the media outlets not to publish or disseminate “unverified, baseless content.”
Shrestha filed two separate petitions on June 9, asserting that the reports contained defamatory and unverified allegations about his role at SEBON. The court has scheduled a follow-up hearing for June 18 to review the interim order and hear responses from the news organizations.
Bizmandu responded to the order with a statement noting that the directive could potentially contradict Nepal’s Constitution, journalistic standards, and international obligations. “We will join the legal process and respond to the order of the esteemed court. We are confident that the court will act responsibly in favor of press freedom as always,” the portal said.
Nepal Khabar, also named in the ruling, defended its editorial practices, stating, “We are ready to face any level of scrutiny regarding the credibility of the content we publish. We do not shy away from accountability.” The portal emphasized its commitment to investigative journalism, asserting that any attempt to silence or intimidate the press through legal means is unacceptable and unconstitutional.
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has also criticized the court’s action, arguing that grievances against media content fall under the jurisdiction of the Press Council Nepal, not the courts. “The federation concludes that this order issued by the court disregarding the council’s jurisdiction is against international norms and standards on press freedom, and the provisions and spirit of the Constitution of Nepal 2015,” said Ram Prasad Dahal, General Secretary of the FNJ.
Nepal’s Constitution guarantees full press freedom. Article 19(1) clearly states, “No prior restriction shall be imposed on the publication and transmission or dissemination of any news… by any means.” Article 19(2) further stipulates that media outlets shall not be closed, deregistered, or censored based on the material they publish or broadcast.
Additionally, the Press Council’s Code of Conduct for Journalists includes a clause—Point No. 5(8)—which explicitly states that “posts of news published in online media should not be deleted,” making the court’s directive even more controversial.
Nepal has seen a notable decline in press freedom rankings, slipping from 74th in 2024 to 90th in 2025 out of 180 countries, according to Reporters Without Borders. This decline has been attributed to growing government control over the media through legislative proposals like the Media Council Bill, the Social Media Bill, and the IT and Cyber-security Bills, which critics argue allow for the suppression of dissent through vague language and harsh penalties.
Further concerns center on Section 47 of the Electronic Transactions Act, which has been used to prosecute journalists and citizens critical of the government.
As legal proceedings continue, press freedom advocates are urging the judiciary and the government to uphold constitutional protections and resist efforts to stifle investigative journalism under the guise of defamation. (ANI)
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