Kathmandu, February 26

Nepal Media Society today issued a press release opposing the Supreme Court’s recent order passed against Kantipur Daily on a contempt of court case.

A single bench of Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli had passed the order against Chairman of Kantipur Media Group and Kantipur Daily’s Chief Editor, among others, telling them to record their statement within three days.

The SC also ordered Press Council Nepal to investigate Kantipur’s news reports against CJ Parajuli and prevent the newspaper from publishing ‘such misleading reports.’

NMS has urged the SC to correct its interim order that asked   Press Council Nepal to take action against Kantipur Daily and impose pre-censorship against the media in violation of Article 19 of the constitution, which guarantees right to communication.

The Society said that it strongly opposed the judiciary’s attempt to impose pre-censorship on media.

“We believe that the judiciary will demonstrate its behaviour in favour of unrestricted press freedom,” read the release, “We are committed to inform the public by exercising our press freedom and we also urge all bodies to show democratic behaviour as per the spirit of the constitution.”

NMS President Pushkar Lal Shrestha and General Secretary Shubha Shankar Kandel have issued the release.

NMS said that the SC’s order passed against Kantipur Media misinterpreted the frees freedom, a part of fundamental rights that were won after a unique struggle and the order was also against the universal norms of justice.

“Press freedom is a pillar of democracy and healthy criticism is not only a jewel of democracy but a regular duty (of the press),” NMS said and added that the leadership of the judiciary acted with the motive of revenge against press freedom.