Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 26:

Former judge of the Supreme Court, Laxman Aryal, today said the proposed anti-press law was illegal and ill-intended. “The amendment to the media law is the opposite of the norms of law. Even those who know rudiments of law can assert amendment should not be brought against the law,” he said, adding ordinances are brought in only under urgent circumstances and prepared after formation of a special committee. Aryal was addressing an interaction on political situation and press freedom, held to mark the 15th anniversary of Nepal Press Union.

Aryal said the political developments over the past three years were a greater challenge to the state than that which transpired in the past 14 years. Aryal criticised the government for nominating a sub-standard group to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). “The working majority of the new NHRC team is worse than the former.” Bishnu Nisthuri, chairman of Federation of Nepalese Journalists said the movement of Nepali journalists for press freedom is backed by the civil society and also international press bodies.