Govt respects autonomy of Press Council: Minister Kharel

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 13: Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Jagdish Kharel, has urged the officials of the Press Council Nepal (PCN) to work in a way that makes people feel the presence of a capable and autonomous body.

Speaking at a welcome programme organised by the Press Council Nepal on Sunday in his honour, Minister Kharel emphasised the need for the Council to carry out result-oriented activities at a time when the general elections are approaching and political activities are increasing.

He said the Council must take seriously the issue of monitoring and regulating personal social media accounts operated by individuals and bringing them under the scope of legal action through state mechanisms. The minister further said that the government should take responsibility for the media outlets registered in the country and listed with the Press Council.

Minister Kharel stressed that the Press Council should be established as the “court of mass media.” He remarked, “In recent times, the inability to adapt laws in line with rapid advancements in science and technology has created numerous challenges. The spread of false, misleading, and hateful content on social media, leading to verbal abuse, arguments, and personal attacks — has become a matter of serious concern for the entire state mechanism.” 

He advised the Council to produce and disseminate awareness-oriented messages regarding the regulation of social media registered in Nepal. He also suggested forming an immediate task force to identify what kind of human resources and equipment the Council needs and how it can effectively regulate social media platforms.

Highlighting the importance of effective monitoring for the enforcement of the code of conduct during the upcoming general elections, Minister Kharel said, “The Press Council is an autonomous body, and the Ministry will not interfere in its affairs. The Ministry is, however, ready to extend policy-level decisions and necessary support.”

He said that the Council should be able to disseminate a clear message that it is working actively and independently in line with the expectations of the public, the government, and all concerned authorities.

On the occasion, Secretary of the Ministry Radhika Aryal assured full support to the Council in fulfilling its needs. Similarly, Council member and chair of the programme Bal Krishna Adhikari said that despite the shortage of technical manpower and budget, the Council has been carrying out its duties effectively.

Meanwhile RSS adds: Minister Kharel also inspected the Department of Information and Broadcasting (DIB).  Addressing a programme after inspection, he said    efforts are being made to start the registration and renewal of online media from the DIB. Minister Kharel instructed the department to facilitate and provide service facilities for the registration and renewal of online media, as many journalists had to face difficulties in this regard.     

Minister Kharel said, "This registration process will probably progress before Tihar. The department is fully prepared for that. Many people are currently facing hassles to register and renew. The department will soon provide facilitation and service facilities."     

He stated that it took some time since he took charge of the ministry to address the procedural adjustments required due to the monsoon-related disaster and Dashain festival, and assured that once decisions are made in the upcoming cabinet, the registration and renewal process would progress immediately after being published in the Nepal Gazette.  

The Minister also expressed the government's determination to investigate the damage to public property that took place during the Gen-Z movement, to proceed with the punitive process, to advance works that yield results in the bodies under the ministry, and to make every possible effort to lay the foundation for a speedy and simpler service delivery in the future. Likewise, Secretary Aryal,said that the ministry is positive about addressing issues related to online media registration and renewal as well as other demands of journalists.   

Minister Kharel also inspected the office of the Federation of Nepali Journalists. On the occasion, Officials from PCN, DIB and FNJ briefed regarding employee benefits, workplace difficulties, and other related matters to the Minister.