KATHMANDU, JANUARY 22 Press Council Nepal has intensified monitoring of media content, including social media platforms, ahead of the upcoming National Assembly and House of Representatives elections, registering 163 complaints by mid-Poush of the current fiscal year 2082/83. According to the Council, actions taken on the registered complaints include publication of 77 rebuttals, communication of responses in 52 cases, issuance of 14 apologies or corrections, withdrawal of five contents, and seeking explanations from 10 outlets. Five media were directed and cautioned, while one outlet was blacklisted for non-compliance. The Council also conducted self-monitoring of 744 contents from 632 media outlets, web portals and social media platforms. Of these, 447 were media-related and 185 non-media. Based on the severity of code violations, directives and cautions were issued to 136 media outlets and 27 non-media platforms. In the case of 20 non-media platforms that could not be contacted, the Council has written to concerned authorities for investigation and action. With National Assembly elections scheduled for Magh 11 and House of Representatives elections for Falgun 21, the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, came into force from midnight of Magh 4. In this context, the Council said it has launched a special monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance with both the journalistic code and the election code of conduct. The Council warned against the dissemination of baseless, unverified, misleading or hateful content aimed at influencing the electoral process, including character assassination, misinformation and propaganda against political parties and candidates. It urged media outlets and journalists to avoid publishing or amplifying such content. Press Council Nepal also cautioned journalists and media professionals against engaging in or promoting partisan activities on social media, including vote solicitation, one-sided reporting, posting, sharing, sponsoring, commenting, live streaming, tagging or appealing in favor of or against any party or candidate, stating that such acts violate professional journalistic standards and undermine independent journalism.