SC adjourns hearing on media ordinance until Sunday

The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on a number of cases against the recently promulgated media ordinance that has imposed fresh curbs on the independent media.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel, Kedar Giri and Sarada Prasad Pandit decided to postpone the hearing until Sunday considering the Tihar holidays.

Advocates including Tika Ram Bhattrai, Yegya Murti Banjade, Ram Krishna Nirala, Hari Har Dahal and Gopal Krishna Sibakoti ‘Chintan’ presented arguments in favour of three separate writ petitions demanding an interim order halting the implementation of the ‘unconstitutional’ media ordinance.

The court is yet to start recording statement from the defendants’ side.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) case was filed against the media ordinance on October 21 by advocates Rabi Raj Bhandari and Kahar Singh Khadka while nine professional organisations had brought a case on October 23. Similarly, a writ petition was registered at the apex court by the management of Kantipur FM, a private sector FM radio station, against the government after the latter raided the FM station on October 21 and took away equipment.

The new press law and the government action have drawn condemnation from almost all quarters in the country as well as the international community. nepalnews.com mk/by Oct 31 05

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