The government has amended the Printing and Publishing Act, 2048 under the Act to amend some Nepal Acts, 2082, and has implemented the online media registration, operation and renewal under the local administration.
What you should know
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists has requested the government to come to a conclusion after extensive discussion with the concerned parties regarding the renewal and new registration of the registered online media.
The federation is of the opinion that the provision of registration, operation and renewal of online media in the office of the Chief District Officer, which is not envisaged by the existing constitution, is against the provisions of the constitution and the federal system of governance. In a statement issued by the Federation on Thursday, it is said, 'This arrangement can be taken as a continuation of the monopoly Panchayat-era provision of registering newspapers in the office of the Chief District Officer. The Federation believes that the new provision brought by the collusion of the government and the federal parliament is objectionable, vague and unreasonable, contrary to the democratic traditions and norms of formulating policies in broad discussion and consultation with the concerned parties.'
The government has amended the Printing and Publishing Act, 2048 under the Act to amend some Nepal Acts, 2082, and has brought it into effect by providing for the registration, operation and renewal of online media under the local administration. The Federation has said, 'On the one hand, the implementation of a long-term legal system, on the other hand, what will happen to the status of about five thousand online media that are registered and operating, and the confusion about where and how to do the renewal, by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology's vertical order, the Information and Broadcasting Department suddenly postponed the online media registration and renewal work, has created more doubts.
In addition to this, the federation has also demanded to respect the freedom of the press by removing the existing confusion and making arrangements for the smooth operation of online media.
