Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 19:

A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed at the Supreme Court today seeking its order to government authorities, including the Cabinet Secretariat, to allow FM (frequency modulation)

radios to broadcast news. A central member of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and editor of the Communication Corner, Binod Dhungel, filed the PIL challenging the government’s ban on FM stations to broadcast news after the February 1 royal takeover. The petitioner claimed the ban was against the National Broadcasting Act, 1992 and National Broadcasting Regulation,1994. The petition states, “The government order has violated the spirit of the 1990 Constitution.” According to Dhungel, the ban on FM radios has violated the right to equality, freedom and the right to pursue profession guaranteed by Articles 11 (1), 12 (1) and 12(2) (e) of the Constitution. The petitioner also claimed that the government imposed more restrictions than that authorised by the 1992 Act.