Date: June 23, 2026

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has drawn its attention to the interim order issued by the Kathmandu District Court, directing the removal and halting of the broadcast of news published on BusinessNews.com regarding Cimex Inc. Pvt. Ltd., the official distributor of BYD electric cars in Nepal.

According to the Online Journalists Association, an associate institution of the FNJ, the court has extended the interim order issued on Jetha 25, 2083 (June 8, 2026). It has ordered not to publish or broadcast the news contents on media and online platforms operated by Business Venture Media Pvt. Ltd. until the final disposal of the petition, to prevent further dissemination of the published/broadcasted materials, and to immediately remove them from all their online platforms.

This order completely contradicts the provision of Clause 5(8) of the Journalist Code of Conduct, 2073, which states that news published or broadcasted by online media should not be removed (post deleted).

The Federation also believes that the order does not align with the jurisdiction of the Press Council Nepal, which is established by law to test the truthfulness of news.

Ordering the removal of news without reaching a conclusion on whether the facts included in the news are correct or incorrect not only strikes at the core essence of independent journalism but also poses a threat of evidence destruction.

Therefore, keeping in mind the past precedents where interim orders issued by courts to remove news published in online media were ultimately quashed, the Federation is confident that the respected court will amend the interim order and protect press freedom.

While respecting the court, the Federation urges all mass media to accept the final verdict and abide by the Constitution, law, and the Journalist Code of Conduct.

Ram Prasad Dahal

General Secretary