EC urges media to abide by code of conduct

By A Staff Reporter Kathmandu, May 9: The Election Commission (EC) has urged all the media and media personalities not to publish/telecast any contents going against the election code of conduct 2022. 

Issuing a statement on Sunday, the EC said that all the candidates should be treated equally and the right to privacy and information of the voters should be maintained in all aspects by the media. 

Shaligram Sharma Paudel, spokesperson for the EC, informed that a few media outlets were found not abiding by the election code of conduct while publishing/telecasting information regarding the local level election. 

He highlighted the important role of every individual to create transparent, unbiased and fearless environment for the election. 

The Election Commission has drawn serious attention to the activities of publishing/telecasting materials for and against various parties and candidates, publishing/telecasting materials predicting the winners, being biased towards the candidates and parties and asking the voters that who shall they vote while interviewing them. 

Article 22 of Schedule 7 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2021 has made provisions to be followed by the media establishment, concerned staff and journalists, read the statement.  

As the Article 22 (a) of same schedule mentions that no one shall publish/telecast for and against anyone and Article 14 of Schedule 4 states that the political parties, candidates and fraternal organisations should follow the rules of conduct while using the media, the EC has sought clarification on the basis of complaints and information lodged against some media 

outlets for publishing and telecasting materials contravening the Code of Conduct. 

The EC with the help of Press Council has been monitoring the implementation of code of conduct by the media.