November 6, 2026

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has urged Rt. Hon. President Ram Chandra Paudel not to issue the ordinance aimed at amending the Press Council Act, 2048 (1992).

A delegation led by FNJ President Nirmala Sharma, comprising office bearers, advisors and central committee members, met the President today and drew his attention to the potential impact of the provisions of the ordinance on press freedom and freedom of expression.

The delegation informed the President that introducing legislation through an ordinance by bypassing Parliament, without adequate discussion and consultation with concerned stakeholders, is inconsistent with democratic norms and procedures.

The FNJ urged the President to exercise his constitutional discretion in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution, stating that the government had introduced the ordinance in a manner that could further undermine press freedom and freedom of expression, without conducting an independent investigation or taking action against those responsible for police raids and harassment of journalists in newsrooms.

During the meeting, the FNJ recalled that the Preamble of the Constitution guarantees full press freedom and emphasized that regular legislative procedures must be followed while formulating laws directly related to press freedom and freedom of expression.

Meanwhile, at an interaction organized by the FNJ in Lalitpur on November 5, 2026 (Kartik 19, 2083 BS), former FNJ presidents, senior journalists, legal professionals, human rights activists and other participants urged the President to exercise his constitutional discretion, stating that the provisions of the ordinance were contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. The gathering also urged the government to withdraw the ordinance.

Ram Prasad Dahal
General Secretary