Patan High Court upholds PCN's authority over digital media

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, May 14: The Patan High Court has upheld the Press Council Nepal’s authority to monitor and act against digital media. 

A joint bench of Justices Munendra Awasthi and Tikaram Acharya on Tuesday ruled that online portals, YouTube channels and social media-based media fall under the Council’s jurisdiction.

The decision followed a writ filed by ‘diyopost.com’, which had been blacklisted by the Nepal Press Council on November 22, 2024. The court dismissed the petition, reinforcing the Council’s right to regulate digital platforms. Diyopost had challenged the Council’s authority, claiming it had no legal grounds to monitor or penalise digital outlets.

“This verdict clearly interprets that digital media must also fully adhere to the journalistic code of conduct,” said Press Council Chairman Balkrishna Basnet. “It has now been clarified by the court that the Council’s monitoring authority extends not only to online portals but also to digital media operating through platforms like YouTube and Facebook pages.”

The Council introduced digital media monitoring guidelines a year ago, marking a first-of-its-kind initiative in South Asia. Its legal team argued that refusing regulatory oversight enables misinformation to spread unchecked.

Earlier, the Court had also upheld the Press Council’s regulatory authority over online platforms, including ‘Nepal Aaja’, which had been blacklisted by the Council.