Kathmandu: The meeting of the Committee on Education, Health and Information Technology under the House of Representatives addressed views on the Media Council Bill. During the meeting, the lawmakers discussed the relevance, need, and form of the Media Council.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Devendra Paudel emphasized the necessity of the Media Council to regulate those spreading fake news and engaging in character assassination. He highlighted the importance of having clear provisions to curb fake news and suggested that independent and capable individuals should be appointed to the Council through a competitive process.
Rekha Sharma remarked on the need to maintain press freedom while addressing media anarchy, stating that full freedom should not lead to disorder in journalism. Sumana Shrestha advocated for the full autonomy of the Council, coupled with an inclusive and proportional mechanism for effective delivery.
Bidya Bhattarai stressed that the primary basis of the Council should be the citizens’ right to access information, emphasizing the need for fair and transparent media as a prerequisite for democracy. She urged that the Bill should consider this aspect.
Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, stated that the Bill is essential to make electronic, online, and print media accountable, credible, and dignified. He noted the current state of media anarchy and the necessity for regulation, adding that there was an agreement to ensure the ‘Mass Communications Council’ would be autonomous based on suggestions.
Other lawmakers also highlighted the importance of a free and accountable press and the establishment of the Media Council as an autonomous body. The Bill had previously been passed by the National Assembly and forwarded to the House of Representatives.