Kathmandu District Court overturns decision to take down news from the media.

Kathmandu, June 19 – The Kathmandu District Court has overturned an earlier order that required the removal of news reports published by Bizmandu and Nepal Khabar. The initial order was issued after Santosh Narayan Shrestha, Chairperson of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), filed a petition against the two outlets for publishing reports accusing him of demanding bribes through brokers.


Judge Shyam Bihari Maurya, after a two-day hearing, dismissed Shrestha's application for a court order to remove the reports. As a result, Bizmandu and Nepal Khabar are no longer required to take down the stories. The new ruling also nullifies the June 10 interim order previously issued by Judge Pitambar Sharma, which had instructed the outlets to remove the content and temporarily stop publishing further stories related to Shrestha.


During the hearings, Shrestha’s legal team asked for the earlier interim order to be extended, while the media outlets argued that public officials should be open to scrutiny and that their reporting was justified. Ultimately, the court sided with the media.


In a related case, the Patan High Court has extended an interim order that prevents the arrest of journalist Dil Bhushan Pathak. Pathak had faced a complaint alleging he committed a crime under the Electronic Transactions Act due to content he published online. The court ruled there was no need for a police investigation under that law, as such complaints should be directed to the Press Council Nepal, the regulatory body for journalism.


The court recognized Pathak as a longtime journalist, citing his official credentials and registration as a media outlet. It also referenced constitutional protections for press freedom, including freedom of expression, communication rights, and the right to information. As a result, the court continued the interim order first issued on June 16, ensuring Pathak cannot be arrested while the case is ongoing.

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