Kathmandu, June 25:

The Supreme Court today let off the journalists of Jana Aastha, a vernacular weekly, without demanding any bail amount or any personal guarantee.

Jana Aastha Editor Kishor Shrestha, Managing Editor Rajendra Sthapit and sub-editor Chuda Mani Bhattarai had attended the SC in response to summons issued to them by the court, through a suo motu notice, to face charge of contempt of court.

“Since the defendants denied the charge of contempt of court, they should be let off on general court date as per Section 118 (5) of the Court Management Chapter of Civil Code 1963,” a division bench of Justices Kedar Prasad Giri and Sharada Shrestha ruled.

The bench also called the Nepal

Bar Association and the Supreme Court Bar Association to appoint amicus curiae to help the apex court settle the case.

The trio have been let off on the condition that they attend the court, if needed, to proceed with the case.

The Jana Aastha, two weeks ago, had published a news report charging Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Paudel of being involved in a rape case, but the summoned trio, maintained, during their hearing, that they had no intention of disrespecting and insulting the court.