Press Center Nepal said that the important provisions of the Media Council Bill, which is under discussion in the subject committee of the House of Representatives, are of such a nature that it will seriously affect the freedom of the press, and has demanded the amendment of such points.

General Secretary Manoj Gharti Magar, issuing a statement on Sunday, pointed out that if the Media Council Bill is passed as it is, it will be a more regressive law than the previous one. The Center has said that the provisions of the bill are against the universal freedom of press, the National Mass Communication Policy, 2073 and the recommendations of the Suresh Acharya-led Mass Media Sector Reform Committee. 

The center demands that a committee should be formed under the leadership of the Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology for the appointment of officers of the Council, and a committee should be formed under the coordination of the Speaker of the National Assembly, with the Minister of Communications and the chairman of the subject committee of the Parliament as members. It has also been suggested that the same committee should investigate if the officials have to be dismissed.  The

center has demanded that the officer structure of the council should be based on the principles of federalism and inclusiveness, and subject experts should also be included. The center demands that the senior member should be made the acting chairman by amending the provision that the joint secretary representing the Ministry of Communications becomes the acting chairman in case the chairman is not appointed or is vacant. 

The center claims that the council will become a branch of the ministry when the joint secretary of the ministry becomes the acting president. The Center has also warned that if the provisions of the bill are not amended, it will start a phased movement. 

Eight questions raised by the press center about the Media Council Bill

1) Attention to the provisions of the bill passed by the National Assembly: Some provisions of the Media Council Bill passed by the National Assembly and pending in the House of Representatives are seen to have a serious impact on the freedom of the press. There is a risk that these provisions will make the Bill more retrogressive than the Panchayat-era law. Such provisions are the universal recognition of press freedom, full press freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of Nepal, National Mass Communication Policy, 2073, and Dr. He is against the suggestions of the Mass Media Sector Reform Committee led by Suresh Acharya.

2) Reforming the structure of the recommendation committee for the appointment of officials: The bill provides for the formation of a recommendation committee for the appointment of officials of the Media Council under the coordination of the secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, consisting of an expert appointed by the government and a joint secretary of the ministry. This provision is contrary to Section 2.19 of the National Mass Communication Policy, 2073 and fails to make the Media Council an independent, autonomous and competent body. It should be amended and a recommendation committee should be formed under the coordination of the Speaker of the National Assembly with the Minister of Communication and Information Technology and the chairman of the subject committees of the Parliament. If it is necessary to remove the council officers by giving priority to the stability of their tenure, there should be a provision for removal based on the report given by the committee recommending the appointment.

3) Structural reform of officers: The proposed officer structure of Media Council is contrary to the principle of proportional inclusion guaranteed by Nepal's constitution and national mass media policy. The appointment of the chairman and members of the council should be based on the federal structure and the principle of proportional inclusion, which should represent geographical, gender, regional, ethnic and social diversity. In addition, the participation of subject matter experts such as information technology, human rights, and communication policy should be ensured in the council. It is important to get the message clear that the Council is not only a body of journalists, but also a protector of all citizens' interests and freedom of expression.

4) Provision of Acting Chairman: In the event that the Chairman of the Council is not appointed or is vacant, the provision of making the Joint Secretary of the Ministry the Acting Chairman makes the Council a subordinate body of the Ministry. This provision should be removed and arrangements should be made to make the most senior member of the council the acting chairman. In addition, provision should be made to appoint the chief executive officer for five years through open competition in the council.

5) Budget and annual report: To keep the council as an independent and autonomous body, the annual budget and annual report of the council should be presented in accordance with the Constitutional Commission of Nepal.

6) Press representative distribution and newspaper classification: The provision of press representative distribution by the council should be reviewed until a separate autonomous body is formed for newspaper classification and the council should be kept to carry out this responsibility.

7) Defense of press freedom: The bill should be amended by addressing these issues raised by Press Center Nepal in accordance with the global recognition of press freedom, the Constitution of Nepal, the National Mass Communication Policy, 2073, the suggestions of the Mass Communication Sector Reform Committee and the agreement reached with affiliated organizations including the Federation of Nepalese Journalists. The Committee on Education, Health and Information Technology of the House of Representatives and the House of Representatives as a whole are to draw serious attention to this matter.