KATHMANDU, Oct 23 - Nine professional organizations, on Sunday, filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking nullification of the media ordinance, claiming it is against the Constitution.
"The Ordinance contravenes constitutional provisions on Articles 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 22 and 72 . So the ordinance should be nullified," reads the petition. The provisions are related to right to equality, freedom of expression and speech, right to print and publications, right to information and other freedoms.
Besides, the law enacted by parliament through its exclusive powers, cannot be scrapped, amended and changed by an ordinance, the petition argues.
"The ordinance amending some Acts relating to Communication, is against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966, to which Nepal is a party," the petition states.
Representatives of Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Nepal Bar Association, Nepal University Teachers' Association, Nepal Medical Association, Nepal Engineers' Association, Nepal Teachers' Association, Community Radio Broadcasting Association, Broadcasting Association of Nepal and Save Independent Radio Movement, jointly filed the petition.
The petitioners have sought the court to issue an interim order, as the ordinance if enacted, will cause irreparable harm to the people and their right to information and expression. The court has scheduled Monday for initial hearing on the petition.
In the petition, Office of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Information and Communications and Home Ministry have been made defendants.
