The new Media council Bill which is currently under review of the parliament has been hugely criticized by the civil society group regarding threatening press freedom in Nepal. The Media Council bill aims to replace the existing Press Council Act, with more authoritative and concrete action against errors and mistakes.

The new bill forwards provision to proposed council’s members to be appointed by the secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication, two members by the government and remaining by the council. Similarly, the bill also secures the provision of the council members to be sacked by the government at any point of time.

Some insights

1. Section 18 (1) recommends  a fine from 25000 to Rs 1 million on media outlets, editors, publishers and journalists  if found guilty of damaging someone’s reputation.
2. Section 18, Sub-section (2) states that the council can order the erring parties to pay compensation if the content in media damages the reputation of the affected party.
3. Section 17 of the bill proposes to suspend press pass of media persons and downgrade the classification of the concerned print media outlet for violating the code of conduct.