Kathmandu, November 13:

The Supreme Court today directed the government to amend or scrap Acts that contradict provisions of the Interim Constitution, especially the provisions on defamation of monarchy.

A three-member full-bench issued the order.

It directed the government to take initiatives to come up with provisions that are compatible with the Interim Constitution.

A group of lawyers, including Rishiram Ghimire, had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the apex court intervention on the matter. The petitioners had maintained that the State Offence Act (SOA), 1989, prohibited anyone from defaming or criticising the monarchy.

They had demanded that Section 4(1) of the 1989 Act be scrapped as it is incompatible with Article 12 (3) (A), 15 (1) and 159 (2) of the Interim Constitution and provisions of the International Convention on Human Rights. SOA 1989 states that those, who defame the king and other members of the royal family, can be jailed for three years or subjected to fine of Rs 3,000 or both.