New Communication Act 2062 to check monopoly of media

RSSKATHMANDU, Oct. 10: The Ordinance Amending Some Nepal Acts Related to Communication-2062 that has been promulgated by His Majesty the King is oriented towards curtailing monopoly of the media while letting it to abide by democratic norms and values.According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the ordinance also prohibits dissemination and broadcast of any information that is against the interest of the nation and national interest.The ministry also made it clear that the amendment made in the ordinance requires a broadcasting centre to broadcast information from one location only.Similarly, amendment has been made on the Radio Act, 2014, which do not require an individual or organisation license to keep radio instruments once they hold license to broadcast.Earlier, one requires both licenses to broadcast and to keep radio instrument under National Broadcasting Law.With a view to making things easier for the international news agencies to distribute and disseminate information within the Nepalese Kingdom with the permission of HMG which is imperative for the institutional development of Rastriya Smaachar Samiti, the only national news agency in Nepal, amendment has been made in the Rastriya Samachar Samiti Act, 2021.According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the ordinance has banned dissemination of information that would promote terrorism and terrorist activities, which is detrimental to the creation of peaceful and creative society.The Ministry also made it clear that the ban on anti-social activities has been imposed by the ordinance.With this objective, laws relating to printing press and publication, 2048 have been amended.Likewise, the Press Council Law, 2049 has been amended with a view to giving due respect to the professional integrity of journalists by way of emphasising the code of conduct for them which is clearly aimed at discouraging ? yellow journalism?.Besides, some amendments have been made on defamation act, 2016 with a view to effectively protecting prestige and dignity of citizens of the country.Similarly, the ordinance has banned the import of print materials that are not in the interest of nation and national interest. Meanwhile, Ministry also elucidated that any act in contravention of Ordinance Amending Some Nepal Acts Related to Communication-2062 shall be punished as prescribed by existing laws. The amendment, made by the Ordinance in section 5 of National Broadcasting Act - 2049, has defined the informative program, intended to broadcast by person or body corporate by way of frequency modulation, to the extent of information regarding health, education, sport, population, environment, weather or activities of development and construction such as road and transportation, the press release stated.The Ministry has also called on person or body corporate broadcasting by way of FM to broadcast his or her program within the parameter prescribed by the law. The ordinance, adding section 11 (a) in National Broadcasting Act 2049, has made a provision to prohibit broadcasting body to broadcast the same program, that it is broadcasting from one station, from another station at the same time without prior approval of His Majesty?s Government. The Ministry has also called on the broadcasting bodies not to broadcast same program, that it has been broadcasting from one station, from another station by any means in contravention to the provision of the law. The Ministry has also called on the concerning parties not to subscribe international news from any other international news agency except from Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) without prior approval of His Majesty?s Government.Sub section 2, Section 32 of Rastriya Samachar Samiti Act prescribes news agencies to disseminate their news within the kingdom of Nepal only after taking prior approval from His Majesty?s Government.