Aagya Khabar
Kathmandu –
The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), along with other journalist organizations, has voiced strong opposition to a newly proposed provision introduced under the pretext of amending laws related to the media. According to the proposal, the registration process for online media, which until now has been under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, would be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Chief District Officer (CDO) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Issuing a statement on Thursday, the FNJ argued that attempting to register media through a structure not envisioned by the Constitution is against democratic values and the federal governance system. The statement, issued by FNJ General Secretary Ram Prasad Dahal, reads: “The attempt to register media through a Panchayat-style approach not recognized by the Constitution is unacceptable.”
The federation further described the move as a continuation of the system used to control the press during the Panchayat era. It objected to the government introducing such amendments without consulting stakeholders, calling it contrary to democratic norms and the principles of press freedom.
Other major journalist organizations, including the Press Union and Press Center Nepal, have also come forward in opposition to the provision. Press Union General Secretary Dilip Paudel stated clearly, “Sensitive responsibilities like media regulation and registration should be handled by the Ministry of Communications, not the Home Ministry.” He added, “Such matters should be addressed through the Media Council Bill, not through a strategy that seeks to control the media under the Home Ministry.”
Similarly, Press Center Nepal General Secretary Manoj Ghartimagar issued a statement accusing the government of attempting to impose control over the media. “This provision, introduced with the intent to impose control over press freedom—a fundamental right—is not only unconstitutional, it also makes a mockery of federalism,” the statement said.
Process Halted, Uncertainty Grows
Following the public outcry over the controversial legal amendment proposal, the government has suspended the online media registration process for the past three days. As a result, media houses seeking to open new outlets or renew existing registrations have been thrown into uncertainty. The shared stance of the three major journalist organizations—the FNJ, the Union, and the Center—is that this attempt at centralized control is completely unacceptable.
