The Right to Information Bill-2059 will be passed in the next session of parliament, Information and Communication Minister Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta said here today, speaking to newsmen after unveiling “Press Jagat”, a journalism handbook published by Nepal Press Council.

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In view of some business houses manipulating journalism for their personal interests, some sort of a practical code and a regulatory mechanism are urgently needed, he added. “The government is working in a plan to terminate the system of The Press Council chief being elected by a single concerned minister,” said Gupta, “Instead, we are thinking of constituting a recommendation committee consisting experts to suggest suitable person for the post.”

Journalist- turned MP Homenath Dahal noted, “If anything in the country has developed after 12 years of restoration of democracy in the country, that is the Press. However, the Press today faces a great challenge-- credibility, if you read four different newspapers on same issue same day, you are sure to get confused.”

Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) president Suresh Acharya said that The Press Council should focus on more research and publications instead of a code of conduct. “The council’s code of conduct has no impression and the people concerned prefer to knock at the court’s door directly.”

Harihar Birahi, chairman of the Press Council, said that publishing “Press Jagat” was part of the council vision and it was facing a resource crunch. “Looking at today’s newspapers, it seems that regardless of big investment- people involved do not have even a general knowledge of the press. We decided to bring out this book for them,.” Birahi explained.